Chemical Properties
beige crystalline powder
General Description
Colorless crystals.
Air & Water Reactions
Slightly soluble in hot water.
Reactivity Profile
P-TOLYLUREA is an amide. Amides/imides react with azo and diazo compounds to generate toxic gases. Flammable gases are formed by the reaction of organic amides/imides with strong reducing agents. Amides are very weak bases (weaker than water). Imides are less basic yet and in fact react with strong bases to form salts. That is, they can react as acids. Mixing amides with dehydrating agents such as P2O5 or SOCl2 generates the corresponding nitrile. The combustion of these compounds generates mixed oxides of nitrogen (NOx).
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Slightly toxic. Hazardous decomposition products.
Purification Methods
Crystallise the urea from H2O (m 186o), EtOH/water (1:1) or aqueous AcOH (m 184o). [Beilstein 12 H 941, 12 I 425, 12 II 512, 12 III 2084, 12 IV 1923.]
