Urea is a white and crystalline organic compound, with the formula CO (NH2) 2, also known as carbamide, belonging to the chemical family of aliphatic amides. It has a melting point of 132.7 ° C, is soluble in water (easily in hot water) and in alcohol, and slightly soluble in ether.
Urea is the main end product of protein metabolism in humans, it is produced exclusively in the liver through a cyclical series of reactions (the urea cycle) that begins in the mitochondria and continues in the cytoplasm.
It has a series of properties that favors its formation: it is a small, uncharged and water-soluble molecule. Consequently, it can easily diffuse through membranes and be excreted in the urine. Almost 50% of its weight is nitrogen, making it a very effective nitrogen transporter and excretor. This nitrogen comes from the decomposition of the body's cells, but, above all, from the proteins in food.
Its elevation in the body is the product of disorders in kidney or liver function, dietary problems, diabetes and others. Urea is also present in fungal molds as well as in the leaves and seeds of many legumes and cereals.
Urea is obtained from ammonium cyanate (Wöhler synthesis), carried out by the chemist Friedrich Wöhler in 1828. This synthesis represented an event in chemistry, as it was the first time that man managed to synthesize a substance in the laboratory that, Until then, it was believed to be the only product of the activity of living organisms.
Due to its high nitrogen content, commercially made urea is used in the manufacture of agricultural fertilizers. It is also used as a raw material in the preparation of drugs, as a stabilizer in nitrocellulose explosives and is a fundamental component of synthetically prepared resins.
Urea when reacting with formaldehyde produces polymers called urea-formaldehyde plastic resins. Articles made with these resins are strong, clear and hard, with good electrical properties.
They are used primarily as adhesives to make chipboard. Also for the manufacture of chemical products, building materials, household products, cosmetics, paints, glue manufacturing, wood treatment products, coating paper, doors, paper treatment, among others.
