Carbamida

Carbamida, commonly known as carbamide or urea, is an organic compound with the formula CO(NH2)2. It is the simplest diamide of carbonic acid and a major nitrogen-containing chemical. In biology, urea is produced in the liver through the urea cycle and is the primary nitrogenous waste excreted in urine. It forms colorless crystalline solids and is highly soluble in water.

In nature and industry, urea appears as both a natural metabolite and a synthetic product. It is found in urine and various excretions, and it is widely synthesized for agricultural and chemical use. Its production is dominated by the Bosch-Meiser urea process, which couples ammonia with carbon dioxide to form ammonium carbamate, NH2COONH4, that dehydrates to yield urea: 2 NH3 + CO2 → CO(NH2)2 + H2O.

Industrial production and handling emphasize energy efficiency and safety, as the synthesis operates at elevated temperature and pressure and generates heat that must be managed. Urea is versatile as a fertilizer due to its high nitrogen content and rapid solubility. It is also a key feed additive and a chemical building block for resins (such as urea-formaldehyde), coatings, adhesives, and various plastics. It serves in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals as a humectant and stabilizer in some formulations.

Physically, urea is a stable, non-volatile solid that dissolves readily in water and has a melting point around 133°C, where it tends to decompose rather than melt cleanly. It is of low acute toxicity and generally considered safe for handling under standard industrial practices, though high concentrations can irritate skin and eyes and heating can release ammonia.

Historically, urea’s synthesis by Friedrich Wöhler in 1828 demonstrated that organic compounds could be prepared from inorganic materials, marking a milestone in chemistry.