chelation

American  

[kee-lay-shuhn] / kiˈleɪ ʃən /

noun

1. Chemistry. the process of chelating.

2. 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.

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chelation British  

/ ˈkiːleɪʃən /

noun

1. chem the process by which a chelate is formed

2. 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

3. geology the chemical removal of metallic ions in a mineral or rock by weathering

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chelation Scientific  

/ kĭ-lā′shən /

1. 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.

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Etymology

Origin of chelation

First recorded in 1930–35; chelate + -ion

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chelation

They would also put the children through chelation therapy to remove non-existent mercury from their systems.

From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2025

Bluebird has rationalized the high price of Zynteglo by referring to the lifetime cost of transfusions and chelation therapy, which the company says can run as high as $6.4 million.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2022

Doctors discovered that the little girl’s lead level was extremely high and hospitalized her to begin chelation therapy, a process that removes heavy metals from the blood.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2022

However, chelation therapies can disrupt the normal concentration of ions in the body, leading to serious side effects, so researchers are searching for new chelation drugs.

From Textbooks ● Feb. 14, 2019

He had even tried intravenous chelation therapy and colonics.

From How and When to Be Your Own Doctor by Steve Solomon

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