When it comes to the human execratory system, what is the thing that comes very first in your mind?
I will not be shocked if it is urea that hits your neurons!
Urea serves as an important sector in the nitrogen-containing life of mammals. It is present in milk and specially secreted from the body as nitrogenous waste products in urine and sweat. Urea also has many other features and uses that include the contribution of fertilizers.
One of such features adds that, is urea flammable?
No, urea holds the feature of an anti-flammable component. Some of those many reasons are its non-applicable flashpoint, essential nitrogen element, etc. Urea can only be flamed for experiment purposes with the consequence of toxic by-products.
Let us learn in detail.
Also Read: Check out our other article about What To Do If Petrol Catches Fire?
is urea fertilizer flammable
Urea is not at all flammable. They can not be burnt easily at the fire as the flashpoint beyond the reach of fire to burn it completely. Urea is sublimated when heat is applied and turns directly into gases if ammonia. This sublimation also indicates the flammability of urea.
Some of the essential facts that make urea non-flammable are:
- The main scenario behind urea’s flammability depends on the flashpoint, which is not ideal for the component to catch on fire.
- Urea is a base that doesn’t yield much when brought in contact with the fire. So, it is not considered a flammable substance.
- Any substance which ignites and burns quickly is known as an explosive. The easier it burns, the more is the flammability. But the scenario of urea is different and doesn’t let fire catch easily.
What is the flashpoint of urea?
The flashpoint of urea is not applicable, which is to say, it is far away from burning and ignition. Flashpoint is the temperature at which a substance starts to catch on fire.
Once the value of temperature is exceeded above the flashpoint of the essence, it starts to get damaged and burn out completely. Flashpoint also indicates the rate of flammability of any importance.
So, when it comes to the flammability of urea, the flashpoint of urea is a must to be considered which is:
- There is no flashpoint for the area as it is ultimately an anti-flammable component.
- The lower the flashpoint, the more is the value of flammability that an object carries. And the opposite occurs in the case of the higher level of flashpoint.
- So, the idea of the flashpoint of urea can be achieved depending on how easily it catches on fire. Urea is not only hard to burn but is almost a non-flammable component.
- As a result, it can be obtained that the flashpoint of urea is really high and almost impossible to reach.
Can urea-based fertilizer cause a fire?
No, urea fertilizers are incombustible thanks to the blessing of the urea itself in them. Urea does not allow combustion, as it contains a higher value of flashpoint. So urea in the urea-based fertilizers helps to perform the same task of protecting from fire.
The reasons for which urea fertilizers do not cause fires are:
- Urea-based fertilizers are essential compounds that contain a high melting point. They melt at temperatures around 535° Fahrenheit which is the flashpoint of many other substances.
- The higher melting point of urea fertilizers indicates how far the flashpoint can go and makes them resistant to fire.
- When heat is applied to the fertilizers, they decompose and emit toxic gases but still don’t allow flame to catch in.
Does urea-based fire smoke suffocate?
Yes, urea-based fire smoke is highly suffocating and irritates. In addition, urea decomposes into mildly poisonous and toxic gas, which are harmful when inhaled. This decomposition is done in the presence of heat and fire, for which a conclusion can be obtained that urea-based fire smokes are disturbing.
The exact causes behind fire smoke of urea cause suffocation are mentioned below:
- Urea contains nitrogen which yields ammonia in the form of gas when it is burned. This ammonia is the ultimate reason behind harmful smoke.
- Ammonia causes white fumes of pungent smell that are somewhat from mild to highly toxic. So they cause suffocation when mixed with the air and enter the human lungs.
- The odor of the gases is highly responsible for the suffocation and can lead to respiratory damages, breathing problems, etc.
Is liquid urea flammable?
Liquid urea serves an essential role in the life of nitrogen-containing organisms. They are not flammable, having the same molecular formula as the solid urea but different in structure.
These differences in the system allow it to perform its crucial role but don’t create restrictions in bearing the characteristics of anti-flammability.
The things that don’t allow liquid urea to be flammable are:
- Liquid urea is the solid crystal urea modified form, which remains nitrogen storage inside the organisms. But their origin is from the stable and non-flammable urea, which makes them resistant to fire.
- Liquid urea is present mainly in the urine, which is anti-flammable.
- Liquid urea doesn’t yield any product when burned in the fire, which makes it incombustible.
Also Read: Is Nitrogen Gas Flammable Or Explosive?
Can you mix urea and ammonium sulfate?
Yes totally, you can mix urea with ammonium sulfate without any problems. The by-product from their reaction doesn’t leave any harmful ingredients in nature. The response has no issue until there is the presence of ammonium nitrate. The outcomes of the mixture of urea and ammonium sulfate are:
- No harmful or unfriendly effects are seen with the pure mixture of urea and ammonium sulfate.
- Some reaction somehow contains the presence of ammonium nitrate in them. In this scenario, the mixture becomes hazardous.
- Ammonium nitrate in the mixture of urea and ammonium sulfate can cause ignition. As a result, they can catch on fire and create unwanted conditions.
- They can even become explosive. So the absence of ammonium nitrate in the mixture should be ensured.
What to do if urea catches fire? How to mitigate the fire?
The thing about catching fire in the area is not practical and a theory basis experiment. But if the site is forced out to catch on fire, then its outcome will not be sweet. It is required to mitigate the fire as early as possible to pollute the surrounding air and cause hazardous situations.
The ways of mitigating fire in case if the area is burned are given below:
- This fire can also cause explosions because of the overheating of the area. So, in case of an adverse situation, help from the fire service should be taken.
- Water is an excellent remedy against fire. So a flooding water quantity is required to serve in the area and help it settle the fire.
- The water should be poured on the fire, maintaining a distance to avoid uncertainties. The fire can release harmful and dangerous smoke, which can make the surroundings toxic. This smoke should be avoided from inhaling, for which measures should be taken while mitigating the fire.
Conclusion
Urea is mainly an essential compound of the product nitrogen that is highly fire-resistant and non-flammable. It also contains oxygen and carbon dioxide, which are flammable but still cannot affect the incombustibility of urea.
The super high incombustible flashpoint of the urea represents how much flammable urea is in nature!
