Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid
C10H16N2O8292.24 g/mol Calculated
Also called edetic acid, EDTA and versene Acid.
EDTA, the molecule that grabs metal ions and will not let go. It keeps mayonnaise from going rancid, stops blood samples clotting, and is the antidote in lead poisoning.
Sources and notes
- The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
- Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
- 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
- 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.
Where you encounter it
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid on our curated lists, and on the product labels we hold.
Every product and list we hold
Sources and notes
- Our curated lists and their amountsfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach amount is an editorial figure from our food and drink lists, not a measurement of any one product.
- The product labels and their strengthsfrom sourceDailyMed (FDA label)Each label lists the molecule as an ingredient, and an active ingredient at the strength shown.
- How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
Explore its structure
Choose a part to light it up.
A carbon carrying both a C=O and an O-H, written COOH. In water it gives up that hydrogen, which is what makes the molecule an acid.
From: standard chemistry.
A nitrogen bonded to three carbons, with no hydrogen of its own. Its spare pair of electrons can still pick up a hydrogen ion, so a tertiary amine is a base.
From: standard chemistry.
Sources and notes
- The drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKitThe page's one shipped drawing, with the chosen part lit in amber under it.
- The partscomputedFound by ruleEach part is found by a chemical pattern, never picked by hand atom by atom; its words say where they come from.
Properties and sources
Calculated by PubChem
- Molecular formula
- C10H16N2O8
- Molecular weight
- 292.24 g/mol
- XLogP3octanol/water, log units
- −5.9
- Polar surface areatopological
- 156 Ų
- H-bond donors
- 4
- H-bond acceptors
- 10
- Rotatable bonds
- 11
- Complexity
- 315
Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem
3,700 mg/kg pure ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, rat, oral
An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.
Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, EU CLP Regulation, Safe Work Australia via PubChem
Warning Irritant pictogram (GHS07) and Health hazard pictogram (GHS08); hazard statements H302, H312, H315, H319, H332, H335, H373, H412
Groups it belongs to
- Category
- Everyday chemistry
- Family
- Organic acids
- Chemical groups
- Carboxylic Acids
- Product lists
- Household cleaners
- Elements
- Nitrogen
- Hazard classes
- Irritant, Health hazard, GHS Warning
SMILES
C(CN(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)O)N(CC(=O)O)CC(=O)OPubChem CID 6049 · Wikidata Q408032 · InChIKey KCXVZYZYPLLWCC-UHFFFAOYSA-N · Data refreshed
Questions
- What is Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid?
- EDTA, the molecule that grabs metal ions and will not let go. It keeps mayonnaise from going rancid, stops blood samples clotting, and is the antidote in lead poisoning.
- Where is Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid found?
- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is in these product groups: household cleaners. from source
- How toxic is Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid?
- The reported LD50 of Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is 3,700 mg/kg (rat, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Warning and the hazard pictograms Irritant and Health hazard. from sourcefrom source
- What kind of molecule is Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid?
- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid has the formula C10H16N2O8 and a molecular weight of 292.24 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under organic acids, in the everyday chemistry group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
- What else is Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid called?
- Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is also called edetic acid, EDTA and versene Acid. from source
Sources and notes
- Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
- LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: mouse, oral, 30 mg/kg; mouse, oral, 400 mg/kg; rabbit, oral, 2,300 mg/kg; rabbit, intravenous, 47 mg/kg; mouse, another route, 250 mg/kg; rat, another route, 397 mg/kg; rat, another route, 512.9 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, EU CLP Regulation, Safe Work Australia via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- EU CLP Regulationfrom sourceAttributionSource: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, © European Union.
- Safe Work Australiafrom sourceAttributionSource: Safe Work Australia, Hazardous Chemical Information System, © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0.
- Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09
Keep exploring
Also an organic acidSuccinic acidC4H6O4Also an organic acidGlycolic acidC2H4O3Both carry a carboxylic acid group.CreatineC4H9N3O2
Sources and notes
- The same kind of moleculefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated groupsA structural neighbour in the same family or type group; the line names the group in its own words.
- Similar in shapecomputedRDKit Morgan/TanimotoNeighbours by structural fingerprint; the sentence names the chemical groups the two share.
- The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit