Carbamide is an organic chemical compound that is obtained industrially from ammonium hydrate and carbon dioxide.

It appears in the form of a white powder. 

What it is used for and where

Food

Ingredient listed in the European food additives list as E927b as acidity regulator, anti-caking agent.

Medical

Carbamide as Carbamide Peroxide is used on a par with hydrogen peroxide as a tooth-whitening agent (1), but has demonstrated toxicity (2).

Other uses

Solid fertiliser with good nitrogen content in main and supplementary fertilisation of crops. It is used in the chemical industry for the production of formaldehyde and in low temperature thermochemical cyanidation.

• Molecular Formula   NH₂CONH₂    CH₄N₂O
• Molecular Weight   60.056
• CAS    57-13-6
• EC number   200-315-5

References_____________________________________________________________________

(1) Azer, S.S., Hague, A.L. and Johnston, W.M., 2011. Effect of bleaching on tooth discolouration from food colourant in vitro. Journal of Dentistry, 39, pp.e52-e56.

Basting, R.T., Rodrigues, A.L. and Serra, M.C., 2001. The effect of 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching material on microhardness of sound and demineralized enamel and dentin in situ. Operative dentistry, 26(6), pp.531-539.

(2) Dahl, J.E. and Becher, R., 1995. Acute toxicity of carbamide peroxide and a commercially available tooth-bleaching agent in rats. Journal of dental research, 74(2), pp.710-714.