Used widely in industrial and laboratory settings for chelating metal ions, effectively binding them to prevent interference in chemical processes. Commonly applied in water treatment to soften hard water by removing calcium and magnesium ions. In the food industry, it serves as a preservative to maintain color and flavor by sequestering trace metals that catalyze oxidation. In the cosmetics industry, it is used to enhance product stability by chelating metal ions that could cause degradation. In medicine, it is utilized in chelation therapy to treat heavy metal poisoning, such as lead or mercury. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in analytical chemistry as a titrant in complexometric titrations for determining metal ion concentrations. It is also employed in cleaning processes to remove unwanted minerals.