The Chemical formula of urea is co CO(NH2)2.
Characteristics of urea
| Properties | Detail |
| Chemical formula | CH₄N₂O |
| Molecular weight | 60.06 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline solid or colorless solution |
| Odor | Odorless or slight ammonia-like odor |
| Solubility | Highly soluble in water and soluble in ethanol and acetone |
| Melting point | 132.7°C (271°F) |
| Boiling point | Decomposes before boiling |
| Density | 1.32 g/cm³ at 20°C (68°F) |
| pH | 7.5 – 8.5 in aqueous solution |
| Chemical properties | Urea reacts
· with acids to form salts, · reacts with alcohols to form urethanes, · and undergoes biuret and cyanuric acid formation upon heating |
| Uses | · Fertilizer,
· animal feed additive, · plasticizer and in the production of resins, · adhesives · and other industrial chemicals |
Reaction of urea with Alkali Metal
| Alkali Metal | Reaction with Urea |
| Lithium | 2RNH2 + 2Li → 2LiNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Sodium | 2RNH2 + 2Na → 2NaNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Potassium | 2RNH2 + 2K → 2KNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Rubidium | 2RNH2 + 2Rb → 2RbNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Cesium | 2RNH2 + 2Cs → 2CsNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
Reaction of urea with Alkaline Earth Metal
| Alkaline Earth Metal | Reaction with Urea |
| Beryllium | No reaction (due to beryllium’s high reactivity) |
| Magnesium | 2RNH2 + 2Mg → 2MgNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Calcium | 2RNH2 + 2Ca → 2CaNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Strontium | 2RNH2 + 2Sr → 2SrNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Barium | 2RNH2 + 2Ba → 2BaNCO + N2 + 3H2O |
| Radium | No reaction (due to radium’s radioactivity) |
Reaction of urea with Non-Transition Metal
| Non-Transition Metal | Reaction with Urea |
| Boron | 4RNH2 + B2O3 → 2B2N3R + 6H2O (Formation of boron nitride) |
| Aluminum | No result |
| Silicon | 6RNH2 + SiO2 → Si3N4 + 6H2O + 3CO2 (Formation of silicon nitride) |
| Phosphorus | No result |
| Sulfur | No result |
| Chlorine | No result |
| Bromine | No result |
| Iodine | No result |
Reaction of urea with Non-Metal Element
| Non-Metal Element | Reaction with Urea |
| Hydrogen | 2RNH2 + H2O → CO2 + 4H2 |
| Carbon | RNH2 + CO2 + H2O → RCONH2 + HCO3- |
| Nitrogen | No result |
| Oxygen | 2RNH2 + O2 → 2RNHCO + 2H2O |
| Fluorine | No result |
| Chlorine | RNH2 + 3Cl2 + 6NaOH → Na2CO3 + 6NaCl + 4H2O + RNCI2 (Formation of isocyanuric chloride) |
| Bromine | RNH2 + 3Br2 + 6NaOH → Na2CO3 + 6NaBr + 4H2O + RNCBr2 (Formation of isocyanuric bromide) |
| Iodine | RNH2 + 3I2 + 6NaOH → Na2CO3 + 6NaI + 4H2O + RNCI2 (Formation of isocyanuric iodide) |
Reaction of urea with Metalloid
| Metalloid | Reaction with Urea |
| Boron | 4RNH2 + B2O3 → 2B2N3R + 6H2O (Formation of boron nitride) |
| Silicon | 6RNH2 + SiO2 → Si3N4 + 6H2O + 3CO2 (Formation of silicon nitride) |
| Germanium | No result |
| Arsenic | No result |
| Antimony | No result |
| Tellurium | No result |
Reaction of urea with Actinide
| Actinide | Reaction with Urea |
| Uranium | U3O8 + 14CO(NH2)2 → 3UN + 8CO2 + 14H2O (Formation of uranium nitride) |
| Plutonium | PuO2 + 4CO(NH2)2 → PuN + 4CO2 + 2H2O (Formation of plutonium nitride) |
| Americium | AmO2 + 4CO(NH2)2 → AmN + 4CO2 + 2H2O (Formation of americium nitride) |