A selective and reliable method has been developed for the extraction and separation of mercuric ion with cross-linked graft copolymer of acrylic acid based on sorption-desorption studies. The graft copolymer acts as an ion exchanger. The physicochemical properties of the exchanger, and optimum pH, time, and temperature for Hg2+ adsorption were determined. Metal ion adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics have been studied. A plausible mechanism for mercury ion extraction has been suggested. Mercuric ion has been separated quantitatively from various synthetic mixtures containing metal ions (Ni-2|, Cd-2|, Pb2+, and Zn2+).