What is EDTA?

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid is an organic compound with the chemical formula C10H16N2O8. It is a white powder under normal temperature and pressure. It is a chelating agent that can combine with divalent metal ions such as Mg2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, and Fe2+. Since most nucleases and some proteases require Mg2+ to function, it is often used as an inhibitor of nucleases and proteases; it can also be used to remove the inhibitory effect of heavy metal ions on enzymes.