EDTA

abbreviation for

, Chemistry, Pharmacology.

1. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid: a colorless compound, C 10 H 16 N 2 O 8 , capable of chelating a variety of divalent metal cations: as a salt used as an anticoagulant, antioxidant, blood cholesterol reducer, food preservative; as a calcium-disodium salt used in the treatment of lead and other heavy-metal poisonings.

EDTA

noun

1. ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid; a colourless crystalline slightly soluble organic compound used in inorganic chemistry and biochemistry. It is a powerful chelating agent used to stabilize bleach in detergents. Formula: [(HOOCCH 2 ) 2 NCH 2 ] 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of EDTA¹

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Calcium Disodium EDTA, which is banned within drinks in the UK, was found in Mountain Dew.

From BBC

Ueda, for instance, has shown that EDTA, a commonly used laboratory chemical, efficiently removes calcium from bone.

From Nature

After the blood was revealed to contain EDTA, a chemical used to preserve blood samples in police labs, Cooper’s team suggested the blood had been planted on the shirt.

From Los Angeles Times

They point to tests that suggest the blood on the T-shirt contained the preservative EDTA, which is added to blood samples collected in vials.

From Los Angeles Times

Tests later revealed that Cooper’s blood stains on the T-shirt had a high concentration of the chemical EDTA, which is used to preserve blood samples in police labs.

From Los Angeles Times