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Chelation?


popjinx

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Can anyone explain to me how exactly EDTA forms 1:1 complexes with any metal ion despite their charge?? I know that it forms a ring with the metal cation, but I can't seem to figure out how something with a Charge of 4- only reacts once with a metal cation no matter its charge. Can someone please enlighten me???

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EDTA is a fairly large molecule, and it is also fairly flexible. It wraps around the metal ion so that its six binding sites are all in contact, and in a tetrahedral geometry.

 

As a general answer to the charge question, the electronic structure of transition metals allows them to form fairly stable ions.

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