Urea

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Carbamide (urea) is a chemical compound, the end product of protein metabolism. Human urine contains more than 2% urea. The composition of urea was established in 1818 by the English physician and chemist W. Prout. Urea is the first organic compound synthesized from an inorganic substance. For the first time a synthetic method for producing urea was applied in 1828 by the German physicist F. Weber. At present, most often, an indirect method for producing urea from carbon dioxide and ammonia, developed by chemist A. I. Bazarov, is used.

The composition of urea and its properties

Urea is a white, fine crystalline substance. Urea crystallizes from water in the form of flat prisms, readily soluble in alcohol and water, melting at a temperature of 160-190 ° C. When heated to 200 ° C, this compound turns into ammonium cyanate, and under the influence of higher temperatures at atmospheric pressure, carbamide decomposes to form carbon dioxide, ammonia, cyanic acid, biuret and other components.

Urea contains nitrogen in an easily assimilable amide form. Nitrogen in the amide form is well absorbed by the leaves and roots of plants. Therefore, urea is often used as a fertilizer. When urea enters the soil, the amide form of nitrogen is converted into ammonia, and then into the nitrate form. This transition occurs rather slowly, therefore, the assimilation of nitrogen by plants is carried out evenly.

Urea application

Urea has a diuretic (diuretic) and dehydrating (dehydrating) effect. The substance prevents and reduces toxic pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, helps to reduce intraocular pressure.

The use of carbamide in a concentration of up to 40% is indicated for onychomycosis (damage to the nail plates caused by parasitic fungi), with ichthyosis (scaly thickening of large areas of the skin), as well as with hyperkeratosis (excessive thickening of the stratum corneum of the skin).

A solution of urea at a concentration of 15% is prescribed in the form of lavages, wet dressings, irrigation of purulent wounds. Under the action of this compound, wounds are cleared of necrotic masses faster and heal faster. The use of urea can also speed up the resorption of scars and scars.

The addition of urea to cosmetics at a concentration of 3-10% helps to protect the skin from fungal and microbial infections. French researchers have determined that a cream with urea can protect the skin from negative environmental influences for three to four hours.

Cosmetics with urea in the composition usually have a short shelf life. This is explained by the fact that this connection easily draws moisture from the air.

In the food industry, carbamide is used as an additive that modifies and enhances the aroma and taste of food products. This compound is added to flour and bakery products in amounts up to two grams per kilogram of product. Urea is added in the production of alcohol, and is also used in the processing of cotton seeds to neutralize gossypol.