MANUFACTURING OF UREA IN

LABORATORY
UREA:
Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical
formula CO(NH2)2. The molecule has two —NH2 groups joined by a
carbonyl (C=O) functional group.

CHEMICALS REQUIRED:
 Silver cyanate 
 Ammonium chloride

APPRATUS:
1-Beakers 2-Stirrer 3-Burner

LABORATORY PREPARATION

In 1828, German chemist Friedrich Wohler (1800–1882)

produced a synthetic urea in the laboratory from inorganic
compounds. He first heated a solution consisting of a mixture of
silver cyanate (AgOCN) and ammonium chloride (NH4Cl). As shown
below, this formed ammonium cyanate, also an inorganic compound

AgOCN + NH4Cl -----> NH4OCN (ammonium cyanate) + AgCl

But when ammonium cyanate was further heated, it produced clear,

colorless, crystalline urea which has the same characteristics as
1
urinary urea. It turned out that ammonium cyanate and urea have
the same elemental composition (CH4N2O) and that heating of
ammonium cyanate (NH4OCN) caused the atoms to rearrange
resulting to its transformation into urea (H2N.CO.NH2)

OTHER METHODS:
 Ureas in the more general sense can be accessed in the
laboratory by reaction of phosgene with primary or
secondary amines, proceeding through
an isocyanate intermediate.

 Urea is produced when phosgene reacts with ammonia

COCl2 + 4 NH3 → (NH2)2CO + 2 NH4Cl
 Manufacturing of urea involves three stages
1. Carbon dioxide is passed through liquid ammonia under high
pressure to form ammonium carbamate.

2NH3 + CO2 → NH2COONH4

Ammonium carbamate

2. When ammonium carbamate is evaporated with the help of

steam, it dehydrates to form urea

NH2COONH4 → (NH2)2CO + H2O

3. Evaporation of liquid urea forms granules and it is stored to be

market.

PRECAUTIONS

2
  Urea can be irritating to skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract.
So, wear glasses while preparing urea.
 Repeated or prolonged contact with urea in fertilizer form on
the skin may cause dermatitis. So, wear gloves while touching
the urea.
 Wear lab coat, while you are working in labs.

USES OF UREA
LABORATORY USES :
 Urea in concentrations up to 10 M is a
powerful protein denaturant as it disrupts the non covalent
bonds in the proteins. This property can be exploited to
increase the solubility of some proteins.
 A mixture of urea and choline chloride is used as a deep
eutectic solvent, a type of ionic liquid.
 Urea can in principle serve as a hydrogen source for
subsequent power generation in fuel cell.
 Urea present in urine/wastewater can be used directly (though
bacteria normally quickly degrade urea.) producing hydrogen
by electrolysis of urea solution occurs at a lower voltage (0.37V)
and thus consumes less energy than the electrolysis of water
(1.2V).

INDUSTRIAL USE: 
UREA'S COMMERCIAL USES INCLUDE:

 As a component of fertilizer and animal feed, providing a

relatively cheap source of fixed nitrogen to promote growth.
 As a raw material for the manufacture of plastics specifically,
urea-formaldehyde resin.  

3
 As a raw material for the manufacture of various glues (urea-
formaldehyde or urea-melamine-formaldehyde). The latter is
waterproof and is used for marine plywood.
 As an alternative to rock salt in the deicing of roadways and
runways. It does not promote metal corrosion to the extent
that salt does.
 As an additive ingredient in cigarettes, designed to enhance
flavor.
 Sometimes used as a browning agent in factory-produced
pretzels.
 As an ingredient in some hair conditioners, facial cleansers,
bath oils and lotions.
 It is also used as a reactant in some ready-to-use cold
compresses for first-aid use, due to the endothermic reaction it
creates when mixed with water.
 Active ingredients for diesel engine exhaust treatment AdBlue
and some other SCR systems.
 Used, along with salts, as a cloud seeding agent to expedite the
condensation of water in clouds, producing precipitation.
 The ability of urea to form clathrates (also called “loose
compounds” host-guest complexes, inclusion compounds, and
adducts) was used in the past to separate paraffins.
 As a flame-proofing agent.
 As a clean burning fuel for motor vehicles and stationary
engines.
 As a NOx-reducing reactant in diesel exhaust