The chemodosimetric behavior of dichlorofluorescein derivatives toward Hg(2+) ions was investigated. Simple chemodosimetric systems showed selective and efficient signaling behaviors toward micromolar concentrations of Hg(2+) ions over other common interfering metal ions in an aqueous environment. The signaling mechanism is selective mercuration of the 4',5'-position of the xanthene moiety, which results in efficient chromogenic and fluorogenic signaling of Hg(2+) ions in aqueous environment.