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che·late 'kē-.lāt adj of, relating to, or having the ring structure typical of a chelate
chelate vb, che·lat·ed; che·lat·ing vt to combine with (a metal) so as to form a chelate ring vi to react so as to form a chelate ring
che·lat·able -.lāt-ə-bəl adj
che·la·tion kē-'lā-shən n
chelate n a compound having a ring structure that usu. contains a metal ion held by coordinate bonds
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che·late (keґlāt) [Gr. chēlē claw] 1. to combine with a metal in complexes in which the metal is part of a ring. 2. by extension, a chemical compound in which a metallic ion is sequestered and firmly bound into a ring within the chelating molecule. Chelates are used in chemotherapeutic treatments for metal poisoning.Medical dictionary. 2011.