Question

Urea is an organic compound widely used as a fertilizer. Its solubility in water allows it to be made into aqueous fertilizer solutions and applied to crops in a spray.
H2N-CO-NH2

What is the maximum theoretical number of water molecules with which one urea molecule can hydrogen bond? (Exact whole number required.)

Answer 1

Answer:

One urea molecule can make hydrogen bonding with 8 water molecules

Explanation:

• Hydrogen bonding takes place between lone pair of electronegative atoms (O,N and F) and H atom attached with those electronegative atoms.
• Draw the lewis structure of urea and determine how many lone pairs and H atoms are available for hydrogen bonding formation.
• Theoretically one urea can make hydrogen bonding with 8 water molecules.
• Representation of hydrogen bonding has been given below.