CAS Number: 140-89-6
Molecular Weight: 160.30
Linear Formula: C2H5OCSSK
IUPAC Name: Potassium O-ethylcarbonodithioate
Other Names: O-Ethylxanthic acid potassium salt, KEX, Potassium O-ethyl dithiocarbonate, Potassium xanthogenate
Potassium ethyl xanthate is an organosulfur compound with the chemical formula CH3CH2OCS2K. It is a pale yellow powder that is used in the mining industry for the separation of ores. Unlike the related sodium ethyl xanthate, the potassium salt exists as an anhydrous salt.
Potassium ethyl xanthate is predominantly used in the mining industry as flotation agent for extraction of the ores of copper, nickel, and silver. The method exploits the affinity of these "soft" metals for the organosulfur ligand. Potassium xanthate is a useful reagent for preparing xanthate esters from alkyl and aryl halides. The resulting xanthate estes are useful intermediates in organic synthesis.
