Editing Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (section)

=== Water softener ===
The reduction of water hardness in laundry applications and the dissolution of scale in boilers both rely on EDTA and related [[complex (chemistry)|complexants]] to bind [[calcium|Ca<sup>2+</sup>]], [[magnesium|Mg<sup>2+</sup>]], as well as other metal ions. Once bound to EDTA, these metal complexes are less likely to form precipitates or to interfere with the action of the [[soap]]s and [[detergent]]s.{{Cn|date=June 2022}} For similar reasons, cleaning solutions often contain EDTA.  In a similar manner EDTA is used in the cement industry for the determination of free [[Limestone|lime]] and free [[Magnesium oxide|magnesia]] in cement  and [[Clinker (cement)|clinkers]].<ref name="Cement Chemistry, H. F. W. Taylor">{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=H. F. W. |year=1990 |title=Cement Chemistry |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-683900-5}}</ref>{{page needed|date=October 2017}}

The [[solvation]] of [[iron|Fe<sup>3+</sup>]] ions at or below near neutral [[pH]] can be accomplished using EDTA.  This property is useful in [[agriculture]] including hydroponics. However, given the pH dependence of ligand formation, EDTA is not helpful for improving iron solubility in above neutral soils.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.2136/sssaj1969.03615995003300010024x| title = Reactions of EDTA Complexes of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu with Soils| journal = Soil Science Society of America Journal| volume = 33| issue = 1| page = 86| year = 1969| last1 = Norvell | first1 = W. A.| last2 = Lindsay | first2 = W. L.| bibcode = 1969SSASJ..33...86N}}</ref>  Otherwise, at near-neutral pH and above, iron(III) forms insoluble salts, which are less [[bioavailability|bioavailable]] to susceptible plant species.