Thirty-six new ferroin compounds have been investigated as possible chelation regents for the calorimetric detection and determination of trace amounts of iron(II), copper(I), and cobalt(II). Spectral data, solution conditions favourable for chelate formation, and other data are reported. The results reveal that incorporation of triazoline heterocycles in ferroin chromophore groupings generally leads to poor chromogenic properties, except with respect to cobalt. Triazine groups, however, can give rise to superior properties. The most sensitive iron(II) chromogen of the ferroin type found to date and a promising new cobalt chromogen are described.