What is EDTA exactly and why do we use it in lab setting? I researched but having a little hard time understanding the concept. thanks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDTA
after that article, look up the wiki article on chelating agent
EDTA stands for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. It is a synthetic compound composed of four carboxylic acid groups and two amine groups. EDTA is widely used in laboratory settings for several reasons:
1. Chelating Agent: The main purpose of EDTA is to chelate or bind metal ions. EDTA can form stable complexes with divalent metal ions such as calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+), and iron (Fe2+). This property allows EDTA to sequester these metal ions and prevent their interference in lab reactions or experiments.
2. Metal Ion Indicator: EDTA is also used as a color indicator for metal ions in complexometric titrations. It forms a colored complex with certain metal ions, and the color change can be used to determine the concentration of the metal ion in a solution.
3. Anticoagulant: In biomedical research, EDTA is commonly used as an anticoagulant. It prevents blood from clotting by chelating calcium ions, which are necessary for the clotting process. This allows the blood to remain in a liquid state for analysis.
4. Preservative: EDTA can be added to storage solutions or buffers to help preserve the stability of certain compounds or enzymes. By chelating metal ions, EDTA inhibits the degradation of these substances caused by metal-catalyzed reactions.
To understand the concept better, it would be helpful to study the properties and chemical structure of EDTA. Additionally, exploring specific applications and experiments that involve EDTA may provide more context and make it easier to grasp its importance in the lab setting.