Urea is an organic compound of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, with the formula CON2H4 and the structure
Animals produce urea in the urea cycle, as it is a safe way to get rid of excess nitrogen.
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2 Industrial use 3 Laboratory use 4 Medical significance |
Discovery
Urea was discovered by Hilaire Rouelle in 1773. It was the first organic compound to be artificially synthesised in 1828 by Friedrich Woehler, who prepared it by the reaction of potassium cyanate with ammonium sulfate. This disproved the theory that the chemicals of living organisms are substantially different from inanimate matter and started the discipline of organic chemistry.
Industrial use
Its principal industrial use is the manufacture of plastics (specifically, urea-formaldehyde resin).
It is also a component of many fertilisers, providing a nitrogen source that is necessary for plants.
[other uses besides to be added]
The most common cause of uremia is renal problems. It is measured along with creatinine to indicate direct problems with the kidneys (e.g. chronic renal failure) or secondary problems such as hypothyroidism.
Urea levels can also be increased in some malignant blood disorders, (e.g. leukaemia and multiple myeloma).
Markedly high levels of urea (uremia) can cause neurological disturbances. Prolonged periods of uremia may result in the skin taking on a grey discolouration.Laboratory use
Urea is a powerful protein denaturant. This property can be exploited to help solubilize proteins that do not go into solution easily. For this application it is used in concentrations up to 6M.
Medical significance
Because urea is produced and excreted at a roughly constant rate, high levels of urea in the blood indicate a problem with the removal, or more rarely with the over-production, of urea in the body.