Potassium ethyl xanthate

Potassium ethyl xanthate (KEX) is an organosulfur compound with the chemical formula CH3CH2OCS2K.

Xanthate salts are prepared by the action of alkoxides on carbon disulfide.

The alkoxide is often generated in situ from potassium hydroxide:[2] Potassium ethyl xanthate is a pale yellow powder that is stable at high pH, but rapidly hydrolyses below pH = 9: Oxidation gives diethyl dixanthogen disulfide: KEX is a source of ethylxanthate coordination complexes.

For example (CH3CH2OCS2)3M have been prepared from KEX for M = Cr, In, Co.[clarification needed][3] Potassium ethyl xanthate is used in the mining industry as flotation agent for extraction of the ores of copper, nickel, and silver.

[4] The method exploits the affinity of these "soft" metals for the organosulfur ligand.

Ball-and-stick model of the component ions of potassium ethyl xanthate