Definition of "chelate" []

• Zoology Having chelae or resembling a chela. (adjective)
• Chemistry A chemical compound in the form of a heterocyclic ring, containing a metal ion attached by coordinate bonds to at least two nonmetal ions. (noun)
• Chemistry To combine (a metal ion) with a chemical compound to form a ring. (verb-transitive)
• Medicine To remove (a heavy metal, such as lead or mercury) from the bloodstream by means of a chelate, such as EDTA. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "· Acts as a chelate, that is, it forms compounds with metal nutrients (usually iron, zinc, copper, or manganese) increasing their solubility and availability to plants."
• "We use only the finest and most advanced blend of creatine including magnesium creatine chelate, which is a patented form of the molecule that has been shown to boost strength after only 2 weeks of use."
• "At about 10: 00 am, under the direction of Dr. Kerry, Abubakar's arm was cleaned with alcohol, and EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid), a chelate, was directly injected into the boy's bloodstream."