What is the proper name for EDTA and what is it?
EDTA is ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. It is a tough chelating agent. It has many uses containing:
1) Industrial cleaning: complexation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, binding of weighty metals
2) Detergents: complexation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ (reduction of water hardness)
3) Photography: use of Fe (III) EDTA as oxidizing agent
4) Pulp and paper industry: complexation of heavy metals during chlorine-free bleaching, stabilization of hydrogen peroxide
5) Agrochemicals: Fe, Zn and Cu fertilizer, especially in calcareous soils
6) Textile industry: complexation of heavy metals, bleach stabilizer
7) Hydroponics: iron-EDTA is used to solubilize iron in nutrient solutions.