Chelating agents are chemical compounds that react with metal ions to form a stable, water-soluble complex. They are also known as chelants, chelators, or sequestering agents. Chelating agents are usually organic compounds (a compound that contains carbon).

Chelation is useful in applications such as providing nutritional supplements, in chelation therapy to remove toxic metals from the body, in chemical water treatment to assist in the removal of metals, and in fertilizers.