chelation

[ kee-ley-shuh n ]
/ kiˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

Chemistry. the process of chelating.
Medicine/Medical.
  1. a method of removing certain heavy metals from the bloodstream, used especially in treating lead or mercury poisoning.
  2. a controversial treatment for arteriosclerosis that attempts to remove calcium deposits from the inner walls of the coronary arteries.

Origin of chelation

First recorded in 1930–35; chelate + -ion

Example sentences from the Web for chelation

British Dictionary definitions for chelation

chelation
/ (ˈkiːleɪʃən) /

noun

chem the process by which a chelate is formed
animal husbandry the process by which trace elements in an animal's feed are bonded to amino acids, ensuring their absorption into the animal's body
geology the chemical removal of metallic ions in a mineral or rock by weathering

Scientific definitions for chelation

chelation
[ kĭ-lāshən ]

The combination of a metal ion with a chemical compound to form a ring. Chelation is used in the industrial separation and extraction of metals and to treat metal poisoning.