Chelation





Chelation descrbes the bonding of the organic ligand(s) to a metal atom,
forming a metal complex. A compound that avidly engages in this kind of
complex formation is often called a chelating agent (for example, EDTA).

The term chelate was first applied in 1920 by Sir Gilbert T. Morgan and
H.D.K. Drew in J. Chem. Soc., 1920, 117, 1456, who stated: "The adjective
chelate, derived from the great claw or chela (chely- Greek) of the lobster
or other crustaceans, is suggested for the caliperlike groups which function
as two associating units and fasten to the central atom so as to produce
heterocyclic rings."

Metal complexes are of widespread interest and studied by inorganic
chemists, physical and organic chemists, biochemists, pharmacologists,
molecular biologists and environmentalists.