Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
[CAS# 60-00-4]

Identification

• Classification: Organic raw materials >> Hydrocarbon compounds and their derivatives >> Hydrocarbon halide
• Name: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
• Synonyms: Edetic acid; EDTA; (Ethylenedinitrilo)tetraacetic acid; Edathamil
• Molecular Formula: C₁₀H₁₆N₂O₈
• Molecular Weight: 292.24
• CAS Registry Number: 60-00-4
• EC Number: 200-449-4
• SMILES: C(CN(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O)N(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O

Properties

• Melting point: 237-245 °C (dec.)
• Water solubility: 0.5 g/L (25 °C)

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS07;GHS08 Warning
• Risk Statements: H302-H319-H332-H373
• Safety Statements: P260-P261-P264-P264+P265-P270-P271-P280-P301+P317-P304+P340-P305+P351+P338-P317-P319-P330-P337+P317-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H332
Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure	STOT RE	2	H373
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	3	H412
Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure	STOT SE	3	H335
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	2	H411
Reproductive toxicity	Repr.	2	H361
Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure	STOT RE	1	H372
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H302
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2A	H319

Discovery and Applications

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is a versatile and widely used compound that has revolutionized industries from medicine to manufacturing since its discovery. EDTA was first synthesized in the early 20th century by German chemist Ferdinand Münz, who was trying to develop a compound that could effectively chelate metal ions. The discovery of EDTA's strong chelating ability marked a major milestone in coordination chemistry and laid the foundation for its widespread application in various fields.

Chemically speaking, the molecular formula of EDTA is C10H16N2O8. It is a complex structure characterized by two amino groups (-NH2) and four carboxylic acid groups (-COOH), arranged in a way that favors the formation of stable complexes with metal ions. This structural configuration enables EDTA to bind to metal ions in solution and effectively remove them, and is an important property that has led to its widespread application.

The versatility of EDTA has led to its widespread adoption in industrial processes. In the textile industry, it acts as a complexing agent in dyeing processes to ensure uniform color and prevent metal ion precipitation from interfering with dye absorption. Similarly, in the pulp and paper industry, EDTA is used to chelate metal contaminants in pulp, improving paper quality and reducing production downtime.

In environmental engineering and water treatment, EDTA removes metal ions from wastewater and contaminated soils. Its ability to form stable complexes with toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury facilitates the sequestration and subsequent removal of these heavy metals, aiding environmental remediation efforts and safeguarding water quality.

EDTA’s chelating properties are widely used in medicine and pharmaceuticals. In clinical settings, it promotes the excretion of toxic metals from the body and is used to treat heavy metal poisoning (such as lead poisoning). In addition, EDTA is used as an anticoagulant in blood collection tubes and a stabilizer in certain drug formulations to ensure product efficacy and safety.

In the food industry, EDTA acts as a preservative and antioxidant to prevent oxidation and maintain food quality during processing and storage. Its addition to canned foods, salad dressings and beverages helps extend shelf life by inhibiting metal-catalyzed reactions that lead to flavor loss and nutrient loss.

EDTA plays an integral role in analytical chemistry, where it is used as a titrant in complexometric titration to determine metal ion concentrations in solution. Its precise complexing properties enable accurate quantification of metal content in environmental samples, biological fluids, and industrial wastewater, supporting research in environmental monitoring, metallurgy, and biosciences.

References

2025. Correction: The amelioration effects of ankaferd blood stopper, platelet gel, and Momordica charantia on peripheral nerve injury in the rats: a stereological and ultrastructural study. Histochemistry and Cell Biology, 163(3).
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2025. Characterization and Assessment of Sheep-Origin Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis B63 Strain for Potential Use in Intestinal Health and Disease. Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins, 17(1).
DOI: 10.1007/s12602-023-10172-5

2025. Sympathetic-Mediated Intestinal Cell Death Contributes to Gut Barrier Impairment After Stroke. Translational Stroke Research, 16(2).
DOI: 10.1007/s12975-023-01211-y