Handling Precautions :1- For topical use only.

2- Avoid contact with eyes, lips or mucous membranes

3- Urea causes irritation to skin ,eyes , gastrointestinal
tract and respiratory tract.
4- The Ingestion hazard is convulsions. headache.
Nausea. vomiting.
5- The inhalation hazard is cough. shortness of breath.
sore throat
6- Repeated or prolonged contact with urea in fertilizer
form on the skin may cause dermatitis.
7- Long-term exposure to high airborne concentrations
can lead to protein metabolism ,disturbance ,
moderate ,emphysema and chronic weight loss.
8- Explosive Limits and Potential :
Reacts with sodium hypochlorite or calcium
hypochlorite to form the explosive nitrogen
trichloride.
9- The substance decomposes on heating above
melting point, producing toxic gases, and reacts
violently with strong oxidants, nitrites, inorganic
chlorides, chlorites and perchlorates, causing fire and
explosion

Pharmaceutical Significance:Osmotic urea is used less commonly than other osmotic

agents.
1- Urea (Topical) is primarily indicated in conditions like
Dry skin, Eczema, Onychomycoses, Pruritus,
Psoriasis, Skin ulceration, Slack hairy tounge
treatment of psoriasis ,ichthyosis ,atopic dermatitis
antipruritic, and antimicrobial
2- Moisturizing and softening dry, cracked, calloused,
rough, and hardened skin of feet, hands, or elbows. It
may also be used for certain other skin conditions as
determined by your doctor.
3- It works by helping the breakdown of dead skin and
pus, which helps to loosen and shed hard and scaly
skin.
4- urea is a safe and efficacious treatment of the
syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic
hormone ,
5- it`s used in diuretics.
6- urea is used in the treatment of dialysis
disequilibrium syndrome.
7- As a humectant, urea draws water into the striatum
corneum.

Reactions :It is colorless crystalline substance , Melting point 1233 c

and decomposes when heated above this temperature . It
is freely soluble in water and in alcohol

1) Hydrolysis :-

2) Hoffmann's hypobromite reaction for

urea:-

3)Reaction with acids :-

4)Test for NH :Heat a small amount of urea with NaOH solution to

boiling . NH evolves after heating for a long time
NaOH + (NH2)2CO-- --------> NaOCN + NH3 + H2O

Cool then add Dil HSO , and note the effervescence

takes place due to the
presence of
NaCO

5) Biuret Test :- ( effect of heat on

Urea )
Heat a small amount of urea in a dry
test tube till it melts. Note the evolution of NH vapours.
Dissolve the white residue in 1ml of NaOH
Solution then add drop of very dilute solution of
copper sulphate in water. The solution acquires a
purple color.

6) Nitrous acid test:Dissolve a few crystals of NaNO 2 in 2 ml. of H2O,

then add 2ml. of cold dilute HCl .
Add the urea solution to the formed blue solution ,
note the effervescence due to the evolution of N 2

7)Acetylation with CH3COCl or

(CH3CO)2O :-

Synthesis:-

1) From Urine :-

2) from CaC2:-

3)Hydrolysis of Cynamide :-

References :http://knowledgebin.org/kb/entry/Amines-Urea-6_282.html
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/
http://www.scienceforums.net/topic/38367
http://www.mhhe.com/physsci/chemistry/carey/student/olc
/graphics/carey04oc/ref/ch20reactionsamides.html