Used as a chelating agent in industrial and laboratory settings, particularly in water treatment and cleaning formulations. It helps to sequester metal ions such as calcium and magnesium, improving the efficiency of detergents and preventing scale formation. Also employed in electroplating processes to stabilize metal ions in solution and enhance plating quality. Its structure allows for strong binding to multivalent metal cations, making it effective in pH control and metal deactivation in various aqueous systems.