Chelates

Ions and molecules can attach to metal ions through a process called chelation. Between a polydentate ligand and a single central metal atom, two or more distinct coordinate bonds must form or be present. Chelants, chelators, chelating agents, or sequestering agents are some names for these ligands. As with the use of zinc as a maintenance treatment to stop the absorption of copper in persons with Wilson's disease, they are often organic compounds, but this is not always the case. Applications for chelation include the provision of nutritional supplements, chelation therapy to remove harmful metals from the body, the use of contrast agents in MRI scanning, manufacturing using homogeneous catalysts, chemical water treatment to help remove metals, and more.