The trisodium salt of 2-(4-sulphophenylazo)l,8-dihydroxynaphthalene-3,6disulphonic acid (SPADNS) was studied by Raman and surfaceenhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) techniques. The Raman spectra of SPADNS powder and aqueous solution were investigated and an assignment of the Raman bands was made taking into account its infrared absorption spectrum. SPADNS tautomers, o-bydroxyazo and oquinone hydrazone, are also discussed Although the assigameot is still preliminary owiog to the complex structure of the SPADNS molecule, it provides useful information for SERS investigations of SPADNS in aqueous silver sol and on silver film. "he results of SERS are compared with those of visible absorption spectra aod x-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) aod the adsorp tioo configuration of the SPADNS molecule on a silver surface is considered.