Zn (II), Cd (II), Hg (II) and U (VI)O₂²⁺ complexes of water‐soluble thiosemicarbazone ligand (NaH₃PyTSC) have been prepared and characterized using various techniques. Fourier transform‐infrared (FT‐IR) demonstrated that NaH₃PyTSC ligand behaves as a binegative NOS tridentate in [Hg(H₂PyTSC)(H₂O)]₂ and [UO₂(H₂PyTSC)(H₂O)]₂ complexes via the deprotonated SH, (C=N)_az groups from one molecule and SO₃⁻ group from another molecule, while it behaves as a binegative NNSO tetradentate in [Cd(H₂PyTSC)(H₂O)₂]₂ complex through the deprotonated SH group, the SO₃⁻ group and the nitrogen of both the (C=N)_az and (C=N)_py. Finally, it behaves as a binegative OO bidentate in [Zn(H₂PyTSC)(H₂O)₂]₂·2H₂O complex by the deprotonated OH group from one molecule and SO₃⁻ group from another ligand molecule. The spectral data suggest a tetrahedral coordination around Hg (II) and Zn (II) ions, and an octahedral coordination around Cd (II) and U (VI)O₂²⁺ ions. The NaH₃PyTSC ligand exhibited maximum luminescent intensity at 501 nm, while Zn (II), Cd (II) and Hg (II) chelates show emission bands at 459, 458 and 358 nm, respectively. Two comparable methods were used to estimate various thermodynamic parameters. Cyclic voltammetry has been studied for Cd (II) complex in solution. Different biological applications of the isolated complexes have been estimated. It was found that [Cd(H₂PyTSC)(H₂O)₂]₂ showed the most effective antioxidant and anticancer activity.