Chemical Type(s)
Location(s)
- Chicago
Description
EDTA Acid (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid)
Chemical Formula: (HOOCCH₂)₂NCH₂CH₂N(CH₂COOH)₂
EDTA Acid is a versatile chelating agent widely used in various industrial, laboratory, and even some household applications. It is a white, crystalline powder that is sparingly soluble in water. Its chelating ability—the capacity to bind to metal ions—is the basis for its many uses.
Key Uses:
Chelating Agent: EDTA’s primary function is to act as a chelating agent, forming stable complexes with metal ions. This makes it useful in:
- Water Treatment: Used to soften water by sequestering calcium and magnesium ions, preventing scale formation.
- Detergents and Cleaners: Improves the effectiveness of detergents and cleaners by complexing metal ions that can interfere with cleaning agents.
- Personal Care Products: Used in some cosmetics and personal care products to chelate metal ions and prevent them from reacting with other ingredients or causing discoloration.
Industrial Applications:
- Textile Industry: Used in textile dyeing and processing.
- Pulp and Paper Industry: Used in various pulping and bleaching processes.
- Metal Finishing: Used in metal finishing and plating.
Laboratory Applications: A common reagent in chemical analysis and laboratory experiments, used for titrations, complexometric determinations, and other analytical methods.
Other Applications: Used in some agricultural applications and in certain food products as a preservative and stabilizer.
Packaging: Available in bags