UREA

Description

UREA IS A WHITE CRYSTALLINE SUBSTANCE WITH THE CHEMICAL FORMULA CO(NH2)2; IT IS HIGHLY WATER SOLUBLE AND CONTAINS *6% NITROGEN. UREA IS CONSIDERED AN ORGANIC COMPOUND BECAUSE IT CONTAINS CARBON. IT WAS THE FIRST ORGANIC COMPOUND EVER SYNTHESIZED BY CHEMISTS; THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THE EARLY ***0S
UREA IS MADE BY REACTING CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2) WITH ANHYDROUS AMMONIA (NH3) UNDER 3,**0 PSI PRESSURE AND AT **0° F.

CO2 + 2NH3 > CO(NH2)2 + H2O 
THE REMOVAL OF WATER THAT OCCURS DURING THE REACTION IS REFERRED TO AS "DEHYDRATION." THE RESULTING MOLTEN MIXTURE IS FURTHER PROCESSED INTO EITHER PRILLED OR GRANULES.
UREA IS THE FASTEST GROWING DRY NITROGEN FERTILIZER USED BY FARMERS. UREA IS THE MAJOR FERTILIZER TRADED IN INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE. IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE UREA IS EXPECTED TO ACCOUNT FOR MORE THAN *0% OF THE NITROGEN FERTILIZER IN WORLD TRADE. WHEN COMPARED TO OTHER DRY FERTILIZERS, UREA HAS CAPTURED MORE THAN *5% OF THE WORLD TRADE.