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AAT Bioquest

What is EDTA used for in chemistry?

Posted March 18, 2022


Answer

EDTA, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, is a chelating agent. It is capable of forming multiple bonds with a single metal ion, preventing it from chemically reacting with any other substances, thereby stabilizing the metal ion. ETDA has a wide range of applications. In chemistry it is used to deactivate metal-dependent enzymes, which is useful in metallic enzymes assay or to prevent DNA damage. It is also used to analyze water hardness and to determine the endpoint of the titration in complexometric titrations or chelatometry.

Additional resources

EDTA Solution Solution Preparation and Recipe

The role of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as in vitro anticoagulant for diagnostic purposes