The polyelectrolyte chain configuration of low molecular weight sodium amylose xanthate (NaAX) in aqueous and salt solutions has been studied by viscometry and light scattering. The viscometric results in aqueous solution have been found to be in accordance with the Fuoss's modified equation. The intrinsic viscosities of NaAX in salt solutions from 0.00125 to 0.25 M NaCl have been determined and the expansion factoraat each ionic strength has been determined. The dependence of a on ionic strength has been studied according to the theories of Hermans and Overbeek, Flory, etc. But though qualitative agreement between experimental and theoretical results has been found, quantitative agreement was far from expectations. The frictional coefficient per monomer unit | has been calculated from the relationship of Kirkwood and Riseman. The NaAX macromolecule has been found to have the polydispersed random coil chain configuration in 0.25 M NaCl. Some macromolecular configurational parameters such as effective bond length b, Kuhn-Kuhn equivalent chain length Am, and steric factor α has been determined.