The present invention relates to an exfoliating agent and to a process for producing random form of nanoscale silicate plates. The exfoliating agent applied in the present invention has the formula: ##STR00001## wherein n=1 to 5 and R is a polyoxypropylene group, poly(oxyethylene/oxypropylene) group, polyoxybutylene group, or polyoxyethylene group. In this invention, layered silicate clays are exfoliated into random silicate plates by acidifying AMO with inorganic acid, adding the acidified AMO to layered silicate clay with agitation, and adding sodium hydroxide or chloride of alkali metal or alkaline-earth metal, in ethanol, water and a hydrophobic organic solvent to the intermediate product and repeating phase separation procedures to isolate random silicate plates from water phase.