Definitions for "CHELATES"
Chemical compounds that act as water "softening" agents. "Hard" minerals (such as calcium) are attracted to and can neutralize the surfactants in a detergent. Chelates do not remove or exchange hard minerals in water. Rather, chelate molecules surround and cover (sequester) those minerals. With these minerals sequestered, the surfactants in the detergent are free to foam and clean.