Raman spectroscopy has been applied to investigate the interaction of ethyl xanthate with gold surfaces. SERS spectra showed that xanthate was adsorbed on the gold surface at potentials below the reversible values for diethyl dixanthogen and gold ethyl xanthate formation. As found previously for copper and silver, the SERS spectra confirmed that ethyl xanthate retains its molecular integrity in the layer deposited at underpotentials. The stretching vibrations of the hydrocarbon groups in the xanthate molecule chemisorbed on gold were suppressed when SERS spectra were recorded in situ, analogous to the behaviour at silver and copper surfaces. Differences between the Raman spectra for diethyl dixanthogen and gold ethyl xanthate were utilised to record SERS spectra from the chemisorbed layer in the presence of a significant coverage of dixanthogen.