Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, commonly known as EDTA, is a synthetic compound used primarily as a chelating agent. It binds to metal ions, effectively removing them from solutions, which makes it useful in various applications, including medicine, agriculture, and industrial processes. In medicine, EDTA is often used to treat heavy metal poisoning by helping to eliminate toxic metals like lead and mercury from the body. Additionally, it is employed in laboratory settings to prevent metal contamination in samples, ensuring accurate results in chemical analyses.