ethylenediaminetetracetic acid

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɛ.θɪ.liːnˈdaɪ.ə.miːn.tɛ.trəˌsiː.tɪk ˈæ.sɪd/

• Audio (US):

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Noun

ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (uncountable) (abbreviated as EDTA)

1. (organic chemistry) A white crystalline acid, C₂H₄(N(CH₂COOH)₂)₂, (and its sodium salt), a strong chelating agent with many industrial and analytical uses.

Synonyms

• edetic acid

Coordinate terms

• ethylenediaminetetracetate, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, edetate (coordinate as a base versus an acid, but synonymous in the practical sense that the conjugate base and conjugate acid coexist in solution)