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.
