Advanced chemistry students are introduced to surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) by studying how sodium copper chlorophyllin (CuChl) adsorbs onto silver colloids (CuChl/Ag) as a function of pH. Using both SERRS and visible extinction spectroscopy, the extent of CuChl adsorption and colloidal aggregation are monitored. Initially at pH[is asymptotically equivalent to]10, the colloids possess an overall negative surface charge, preventing attraction. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is not detected at that pH because the relatively small colloids do not possess a surface plasmon in resonance with the laser excitation frequency (633 nm). Once the solution pH decreases slightly, colloidal clusters form and SERRS is detected. As the pH is lowered to a value of 4 or 3, protonation of CuChl results in colloidal aggregation and precipitation. If adsorption and aggregation are halted by adding H[subscript 2]SO[subscript 4](aq) and then NaOH(aq), an intense SERRS signal is steadily detected from acidic pH (about 4), back to the initial basic pH (about 10). (Contains 3 figures.)