Ethylene-diamine-tetra acetic acid (EDTA) is a high quality and convenient solution that chelates a variety of polyvalent cations such as Ca²⁺ and Mg ²⁺. EDTA is usually used as an inactivator of metal-dependent enzymes, preventing damage to DNA and RNA.

    In cell cultures, it is used to avoid clumping of cells in liquid suspensions, as EDTA binds to calcium and prevents joining of cadherins between cells.