| Sodium dithiophosphate | |
|---|---|
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | 13721-37-4 |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | Na3PS2O2 |
| Molar mass | 196.072 g mol−1 |
| (verify) (what is: /?) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) |
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| Infobox references | |
Sodium dithiophosphate is the salt Na3PS2O2. This salt is used as a flotation agent in molybdenite mineral concentration from ores, where it is usually known as "Nokes reagent." The salt is generated by the reaction of phosphorus pentasulfide with sodium hydroxide, often using impure reagents to obtain a mixture of the desired salt and related thiophosphates and oxidized species. Molybdenite particles, which are normally hydrophobic, become hydrophilic in the presence of this salt. In this context, the Nokes reagent is called a "depressant," since it suppresses the flotation tendency of the solids.[1]