[1][2] This process also occurs naturally during bone development and growth, and when uninhibited, can cause diseases such as osteomalacia.
The most frequently used chelating agent is Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA).
Decalcification is a lengthy procedure, as bone pieces have to be left in the decalcifying agent for days to weeks, depending on the size of the bone.
There are numerous methods to test when bone decalcification is complete, such as X-ray examination, chemical analysis, and measurement of specimen flexibility.
Decalcification is necessary to obtain soft sections of the bone using a microtome.