Key Facts

Other Names:

Carbamide; carbonyldiamide

Formula:

(NH₂)₂CO

Elements:

Carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen

Compound Type:

Organic

State:

Solid

Molecular Weight:

60.06 g/mol

Melting Point:

133.3°C (271.9°F)

Boiling Point:

Not applicable; decomposes above its melting point

Solubility:

Soluble in water, ethyl alcohol, and benzene; slightly soluble in ether

Overview

Urea (yoo-REE-uh) is a white crystalline solid or powder with almost no odor and a salty taste. It is a product of the decomposition of proteins in the bodies of terrestrial animals. Urea is produced in the liver and transferred to the kidneys, from which it is excreted in urine. The compound was first identified as a component of urine by French chemist Hilaire Marin Rouelle (1718–1799) in 1773. It was first synthesized accidentally in 1828 by German chemist Friedrich Wöhler (1800–1882). The synthesis of urea was one of the most important historical events in the history of chemistry. It was the...