Urea, a commonly used nitrogen-based fertiliser, is prepared by the reaction between ammonia and ______.

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

SSC CGL 2021 Tier-I (Held On : 12 April 2022 Shift 3)

Answer 1

The correct answer is carbon dioxide.

Key Points

Urea is now prepared commercially from liquid ammonia and liquid carbon dioxide.
The chemical name of urea is carbamide, the diamide of carbonic acid.
Its formula is NH₂CONH₂.
Urea has important uses as a fertilizer and feeds supplement.
It is a colourless substance existing in the crystalline form, which melts at 132.7°C (271° F).
Urea is a waste product in the body with no physiological function.
It dissolves in the kidney and blood before it is excreted as urine.

Important Points

Uses of Urea
- It is mainly used as a nitrogen release fertilizer.
- Urea is used as a stabilizer in most nitrocellulose explosive products.
- It is used in manufacturing high explosive materials like urea nitrate (CH₅N₃O₄).
- It is used as an important reagent in lanthanide chemistry.
- It is used in creams/ointments that are used for rehydration.
- It is used in hair removal creams and dish soaps.
- It is used as a browning agent for pretzels.
- It is used in manufacturing melamine.
- It is used to detect the bacteria in the stomach through the urea breath test.