Sodium ethyl xanthate
![Ball-and-stick model of the component ions of sodium ethyl xanthate](/Images/godic/202502/11/Sodium_ethyl_xanthate_3D_ball3422.png")
Sodium ethyl xanthate (SEX) is an organosulfur compound with the chemical formula CH3CH2OCS2Na. It is a pale yellow powder, which characteristically hydrolyzes to release malodorous products. Sodium ethyl xanthate is predominantly used in the mining industry as a flotation agent.