Potassium ethyl xanthate

Potassium ethyl xanthate

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Ball-and-stick model of the component ions of potassium ethyl xanthate
Names
IUPAC name potassium O-ethylcarbonodithioate
Other names potassium ethylxanthogenate potassium-O-ethyl dithiocarbonate
Identifiers
CAS Number	140-89-6 Y
ChemSpider	8491 Y
Jmol 3D model	Interactive image
PubChem	2735045
InChI InChI=1S/C3H6OS2.K/c1-2-4-3(5)6;/h2H2,1H3,(H,5,6);/q;+1/p-1 Y Key: JCBJVAJGLKENNC-UHFFFAOYSA-M Y InChI=1S/C3H6OS2.K/c1-2-4-3(5)6;/h2H2,1H3,(H,5,6);/q;+1/p-1
SMILES [K+].[S-]C(=S)OCC
Properties
Chemical formula	C3H5KOS2
Molar mass	160.29 g·mol−1
Appearance	Pale yellow powder
Density	1.263 g/cm3
Melting point	225 to 226 °C (437 to 439 °F; 498 to 499 K)
Boiling point	decomposes
Acidity (pKa)	approximately 1.6
Vapor pressure	{{{value}}}
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

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.

Production and properties

Xanthate salts are prepared by the action of alcohols on carbon disulfide. The alkoxide is generated in situ from potassium hydroxide:

CH₃CH₂OH + CS₂ + KOH → CH₃CH₂OCS₂K + H₂O

Potassium ethyl xanthate is a pale yellow powder that is relatively stable at high pH but rapidly hydrolyses at pH <9 at 25 °C. Unlike the sodium derivative, potassium xanthate crystallizes as the anhydrous salt and is nonhygroscopic.

Applications

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.

Safety

The LD50 is 683 mg/kg (oral, rats) for potassium ethyl xanthate.