Applications
Potassium ethyl xanthate is used as a reagent for extraction of metal ions into organic solvents and in the preparation of 2-mercapto benzimidazoles and 2-mercapto benzoxazoles by reacting with o-phenylenediamines and o-amino phenols respectively. It acts as a precursor in the production of unsymmetrical sulfides through cross-coupling reaction and as a floatation agent in the mining industry. It is involved in the determination of cadmium in water samples by substoichiometric radiochemical method and the adsorption of colloidal dye disperse Blue 3 onto pretreated polyester fabric.

Solubility
Soluble in water.

Notes
Light sensitive. Incompatible with strong acids, strong bases and strong oxidizing agents and water.