Everything You Need to Know About Urea

Introduction

Urea, a nitrogenous compound with the chemical formula CO(NH₂)₂, is a vital substance in nature and industries. It plays a significant role in agriculture as a fertilizer and in the medical field as a treatment for certain conditions. This post explores Urea’s properties, uses, production process, and environmental impact.

        Urea is an organic compound created by the metabolism of proteins in the human body and is found in the urine of mammals. It is a colorless, odorless, and highly soluble compound.

Urea is composed of two amine groups (NH₂) attached to a carbonyl group (C=O). It is a simple, stable compound that is highly soluble in water and decomposes when heated above 132°C. Urea is synthesized by combining ammonia and carbon dioxide under high pressure and temperature, forming ammonium carbamate, which then decomposes into Urea and water. This is a critical process used for producing synthetic fertilizers.