Urea or Carbamide  - Carboxylic acids

Urea may be referred like a diamide of an unstable and dibasic carbonic acid by which both the hydroxyl groups have been changed by -NH₂ groups.

a. First time isolated from urine in year 1773 by Roulle and therefore the name urea was given.

b. It was the first organic element synthesised in the laboratory from inorganic material (through heating a mixture of ammonium sulphate and potassium cyanate) through Wohler in 1828.

c. This preparation gave a death blow to Vital force theory.

d. It is the final decomposition product of protein's metabolism in man and mammals and is excreted along with urine.

e. Adults excrete approximately 30 grams of urea every day in the urine.