Sodium ethanethiolate is an organosulfur compound with the formula CH3CH2SNa. It is the sodium salt of the conjugate base of ethanethiol. This compound is commercially available as a white solid that is soluble in polar organic solvents. Sodium ethanethiolate is a reagent in organic synthesis. Hydrolysis of sodium ethanethiolate, e.g. in humid air, produces ethanethiol, which has a low odor threshold and a noxious "rotten egg" smell. 
Preparation.
Sodium ethanethiolate can be produced by treating a solution of ethanethiol with sodium hydride:
The closely related sodium methanethiolate can be prepared and used in situ (i.e., without isolation) by treatment of a solution of methanethiol with strong base such as sodium hydroxide.
Reactions.
Sodium ethanethiolate is a source of ethanethiolate, a powerful nucleophile. It is used to cleave methoxy-aryl ethers:
 (Ar = aryl)
It converts alkyl halides to ethyl thioethers
 (X = halogen, R = alkyl)
Oxidation of sodium methanethiolate gives diethyldisulfide: