Tetrasodium edetate (CAS 64-02-8)

Tetrasodium edetate (CAS 64-02-8)

Tetrasodium edetate is the salt resulting from the neutralization of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid with four equivalents of sodium hydroxide (or an equivalent sodium base). It is a white solid that is highly soluble in water. Commercial samples are often hydrated, e.g. Na4EDTA.4H2O. The properties of solutions produced from the anhydrous and hydrated forms are the same, provided they are at the same pH.

It is used as a source of the chelating agent EDTA4-. A 1% aqueous solution has a pH of approximately 11.3. When dissolved in neutral water, it converts partially to H2EDTA2-. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is produced commercially via the intermediacy of tetrasodium EDTA.