Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA, is a colorless acid that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for treating lead and heavy metal poisoning, as well as hypercalcemia and ventricular arrhythmias. You can dissolve the acid in water by following a few steps.
- 18.6 grams EDTA
- 2.2 grams sodium hydroxide (NaOH) pellets or concentrated NaOH solution
- 80 mL distilled water
- Magnetic stirrer
Mix the EDTA in with about 80 mL of distilled water.
Add the NaOH pellets, which should bring the pH of the water up to 8.0, the necessary level to dissolve EDTA.
Mix the solution vigorously with the magnetic stirrer until the EDTA dissolves.
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References
About the Author
Based in the Washington, D.C., area, Dan Taylor has been a professional journalist since 2004. He has been published in the "Baltimore Sun" and "The Washington Times." He started as a reporter for a newspaper in southwest Virginia and now writes for "Inside the Navy." He holds a Bachelor of Arts in government with a journalism track from Patrick Henry College.