Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is an aminopolycarboxylic acid with the formula [CH2N(CH2CO2H)2]2. This white, water-soluble solid is widely used to bind to iron and calcium ions. It binds these ions as a hexadentate chelating agent.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a hydrophilic metal chelating agent that transforms metal ions into inactive, cyclic metal complexes. Hence, it has industrial application for resolving metal contamination.