ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRACETIC ACID Meaning and
Definition
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Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a chemical compound commonly used in various industrial, pharmaceutical, and scientific applications. It is an organic compound with the molecular formula C10H16N2O8 and a molar mass of 292.24 g/mol.
EDTA is a chelating agent, which means it has the ability to bind and form strong complexes with metal ions. Specifically, it forms complex bonds with divalent and trivalent metal ions such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. This property makes EDTA an essential chemical in applications where metal ion removal or detection is desired.
In industrial applications, EDTA is utilized as a water treatment agent to remove undesired metal ions that can hinder processes or cause scaling. It is also used in the detergent industry to enhance the cleaning effectiveness by preventing the metal ions present in hard water from interfering with the cleaning process.
In the pharmaceutical field, EDTA finds application as an ingredient in certain medications, like chelation therapy drugs used to treat heavy metal poisoning. It aids in the removal of toxic metal ions from the body by forming stable and soluble complexes that can be excreted.
EDTA is also used extensively in scientific research and analysis, especially in chemistry and biology. It serves as a powerful tool for metal ion titration, metal ion concentration determination, and metal ion separations in analytical processes.
Overall, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a versatile chemical compound with exceptional metal chelating properties, widely employed in numerous industries and scientific disciplines.
Etymology of ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRACETIC ACID
The word "ethylenediaminetetracetic acid" (EDTA) comes from its chemical structure and composition. Here's a breakdown of the etymology:
"Ethylene" refers to the organic compound containing two carbon atoms connected by a double bond (C₂H₄). The term originates from the Greek word "ethylen" meaning "sweet oil" or "sweet-smelling". "Diamine" indicates that there are two amino (NH₂) groups present in the molecule. "Diamine" comes from the Latin word "diamēnes", meaning "containing two units" or "two" (di-) "amino". "Tetra" means four, indicating that there are four carboxylic acid (-COOH) groups in the molecule. "Tetra" is derived from the Greek word "téssares" meaning "four".
