Agricultural uses of Urea
Because Urea has such a high % of Nitrogen, it is usually commercially produced as a fertilizer. This is because plant life needs Nitrogen and because Urea is very efficient and can be mixed in with many other fertilizers. When produced as a fertilizer Urea is granule so it can mix with the soil. It is important to note that when using Urea as a fertilizer it is more efficient for it to be mixed into the soil rather than just putting it on top of the soil due to loss of Nitrogen from dry conditions. The reaction of urea and water has a result of 2(NH3)+CO2 (ammonium and carbon dioxide).
Urea as an Explosive
Yes, although seemingly strange, urea can be used as an explosive; and if that isn't surprising enough, it's easy to make. All one needs to make an explosive with urea is simply urea and nitric acid (HNO3). The resultant of the two is Urea Nitrate or UN which has a chemical formula of (CH4 N2O HNO3). Because urea is commercial produced it's easy to obtain, because of this there have allegedly been many terrorist attempts of making bombs from urea. Although it is a very weak explosive, it is easy to make and cheap. Urea Nitrate can be used as a makeshift explosive by the military as well. To see videos of Urea Nitrate click the "videos" page.