Urea: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:22, 29 March 2025

Chemical compound

Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound with the chemical formula (NH_)_CO. It is a colorless, odorless solid, highly soluble in water, and practically non-toxic. Urea is widely used in fertilizers as a source of nitrogen and is an important raw material for the chemical industry.

Production[edit]

Urea is produced commercially from ammonia and carbon dioxide in a process known as the Bosch-Meiser urea process. This process involves the reaction of ammonia with carbon dioxide at high temperature and pressure to form ammonium carbamate, which is then dehydrated to form urea.

Uses[edit]

Urea is primarily used as a fertilizer, providing a readily available source of nitrogen to plants. It is also used in the manufacture of plastics, adhesives, and resins. In the medical field, urea is used in topical creams to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

Biological role[edit]

In the human body, urea is a waste product formed in the liver through the urea cycle, which converts toxic ammonia into urea for excretion in urine. This process is crucial for the removal of excess nitrogen from the body.

Environmental impact[edit]

The use of urea as a fertilizer can lead to environmental issues such as eutrophication and the release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. Proper management and application techniques are essential to minimize these impacts.

Related pages[edit]

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-'''Urea''' is a compound with the chemical formula (NH2)2CO. It is a nitrogenous compound containing a carbonyl group attached to two amine groups with osmotic diuretic activity. In vivo, urea is formed in the liver via the urea cycle from ammonia and is the final end product of protein metabolism. Administration of urea elevates blood plasma osmolality, resulting in enhanced flow of water from tissues, including the brain, cerebrospinal fluid and eye, into interstitial fluid and plasma, thereby decreasing pressure in those tissues and increasing urine output.
+{{short description|Chemical compound}}
+[[File:CSD_CIF_WITQEV.jpg|thumb|right|Molecular structure of urea]]
+[[File:Urea process plant UFFL 01.jpg|thumb|right|Urea process plant]]
+[[File:THC 2003.902.071 Urea Plant.tif|thumb|right|Historical urea plant]]
-==Chemical Structure==
+'''Urea''', also known as '''carbamide''', is an organic compound with the chemical formula (NH_)_CO. It is a colorless, odorless solid, highly soluble in water, and practically non-toxic. Urea is widely used in fertilizers as a source of nitrogen and is an important raw material for the chemical industry.
-Urea is a colorless, odorless solid, highly soluble in water, and practically non-toxic. Dissolved in water, it is neither acidic nor alkaline. The body uses it in many processes, most notably nitrogen excretion. The liver forms it by combining two ammonia molecules (NH3) with a carbon dioxide (CO2) molecule in the urea cycle. Urea is widely used in fertilizers as a source of nitrogen (N) and is an important raw material for the chemical industry.
-==Biological Role==
+==Production==
-In humans, urea is formed in the liver through the [[Urea Cycle]], which is an organic cycle. The cycle involves the production of urea from ammonia, carbon dioxide, aspartate, and water. The cycle was the first metabolic cycle to be discovered (Hans Krebs and Kurt Henseleit, 1932), five years before the discovery of the TCA cycle. For this discovery, Hans Krebs received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1953.
+Urea is produced commercially from [[ammonia]] and [[carbon dioxide]] in a process known as the [[Bosch-Meiser urea process]]. This process involves the reaction of ammonia with carbon dioxide at high temperature and pressure to form ammonium carbamate, which is then dehydrated to form urea.
-==Clinical Significance==
+==Uses==
-Urea levels in the blood can indicate a variety of conditions. High levels, or hyperuremia, can indicate kidney dysfunction, dehydration, shock, or high protein intake. Low levels, or hypouremia, can indicate liver disease or malnutrition. Urea is also used in a variety of diagnostic tests, including the urea breath test, which can detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the stomach.
+Urea is primarily used as a fertilizer, providing a readily available source of nitrogen to plants. It is also used in the manufacture of [[plastics]], [[adhesives]], and [[resins]]. In the medical field, urea is used in topical creams to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
-==See Also==
+==Biological role==
-* [[Urea Cycle]]
+In the human body, urea is a waste product formed in the liver through the [[urea cycle]], which converts toxic ammonia into urea for excretion in urine. This process is crucial for the removal of excess nitrogen from the body.
-* [[Urea Breath Test]]
-* [[Hyperuremia]]
-* [[Hypouremia]]
-==References==
+==Environmental impact==
-<references />
+The use of urea as a fertilizer can lead to environmental issues such as [[eutrophication]] and the release of [[nitrous oxide]], a potent greenhouse gas. Proper management and application techniques are essential to minimize these impacts.
-[[Category:Biochemistry]]
+==Related pages==
-[[Category:Metabolism]]
+* [[Ammonia]]
-[[Category:Urea Cycle]]
+* [[Fertilizer]]
-[[Category:Medical Terms]]
+* [[Organic chemistry]]
+[[Category:Organic compounds]]
-{{stub}}
+[[Category:Fertilizers]]
+[[Category:Chemical processes]]