Surface enhanced Raman scattering ͑SERS͒ was used to observe interactions of dilute Cr VI solutions with silver and copper surfaces in situ. Using silver as a model surface which supports strong SERS with a 514.5 nm laser, it was possible to observe Cr III at the near monolayer level, and the spectra were compared to those from Cr III oxyhydroxide species and Cr III /Cr VI mixed oxide. Similar experiments were conducted with Cu surfaces and 785 nm excitation. Upon exposure to Cr VI solution, the characteristic Cu oxide Raman bands disappeared, and a Cr III band increased in intensity over a period of ϳ20 h. The intensity of the Cr III band on Cu became self-limiting after the formation of several Cr III monolayers, as supported by chronoamperometry experiments. This Cr III spectrum was stable after Cr VI was removed from the solution provided the potential remained negative of Ϫ200 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. The results support the conclusion that Cr VI is reductively adsorbed to Cu at the near neutral pH and open circuit potentials expected for Cu/Al alloys in field applications. The Cr III film is stable and is a strong inhibitor of electron transfer in general and oxygen reduction in particular. An important mechanistic feature of Cr III formation is the substitution lability of Cr VI compared to Cr III . The Cr VI -O bond can be broken much more rapidly than the substitution inert Cr III -O bond, making formation of Cr III /Cr VI mixed oxide kinetically favorable. Once reduced to Cr III , however, the substitution inert oxyhydroxide film is much less labile. An important and central feature of Cr VI as a corrosion inhibitor is its transformation via reductive adsorption from a mobile, substitution labile Cr VI form to an insoluble, substitution inert Cr III oxyhydroxide. Furthermore, Cr VI reduction is likely to occur at cathodic sites previously responsible for oxygen reduction, which are then permanently blocked by a stable Cr III film with a thickness of a few monolayers.Currently, chromate conversion coatings ͑CCCs͒, and chromatebased barrier coatings and paints are preferred for the treatment of aluminum alloys because they provide both excellent adhesion properties and corrosion inhibition. Routine maintenance activities on these alloys, however, are a large source of environmentally hazardous waste containing the hexavalent chromium present in these coatings. Hexavalent chromium is a danger to worker health and its use has been limited or prohibited by various local, state, and federal regulations. In the search for suitable nonchromate replacements, a basic understanding of the mechanism by which chromate-based protection systems provide such excellent protection will be invaluable.Considerable research has centered on the use of chromate conversion coatings on aluminum aircraft alloy AA-2024 T3 which contains, by weight, 3.8-4.9% copper, 1.2-1.8% magnesium, and less than 1% each of other trace metals, the balance being aluminum.