Urea Molecule in 3D: CH₄N₂O Structure and Facts
Urea is a small molecule with a carbon double bonded to oxygen and two NH2 groups. Your body uses it to get rid of extra nitrogen, and it is a major fertiliser. In Molecule Studio you can spin the urea molecule, zoom in on each atom and measure its bonds.
Explore in 3DUrea quick facts
| Chemical formula | CH₄N₂O |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 60.06 g/mol |
| Atoms in one molecule | 8 |
| Shape | Flat |
| Group | Body |
What is urea used for?
- Fertiliser
- Making plastics and resins
- Skin creams
Interesting facts about urea
- Your liver makes urea to remove extra nitrogen.
- It leaves the body in urine.
- In 1828 Friedrich Wohler made urea in a lab, a milestone in chemistry.
- It is one of the most used nitrogen fertilisers.
What you can do in 3D
Turn the molecule to see it from every side, switch between ball and stick, space filling and wire views, and tap atoms to measure bond lengths and angles.
More body molecules
Urea questions
What is the formula of urea?
CH4N2O, often written CO(NH2)2.
Why does the body make urea?
To get rid of extra nitrogen from proteins safely.
Why is urea famous in chemistry?
In 1828 Friedrich Wohler made it from non-living materials, showing that organic molecules could be made in a lab.
What is urea used for?
Mostly as a fertiliser, and in plastics and skin creams.
Molecule Studio is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. In the tool, molecules load from the built-in library or from PubChem.