Wöhler synthesis

Wöhler synthesis is a historical chemical reaction that marks a significant milestone in the field of organic chemistry. It involves the synthesis of urea, an organic compound, from ammonium cyanate, an inorganic compound, by Friedrich Wöhler in 1828. This event is often cited as the refutation of the theory of vitalism, which posited that organic compounds could only be produced within living organisms through a "vital force".

Background

Prior to Wöhler's discovery, it was widely believed that organic and inorganic compounds were fundamentally different and that the former could only be produced by living organisms. Wöhler's synthesis of urea demonstrated that organic compounds could be synthesized from inorganic materials, thus bridging the gap between organic and inorganic chemistry.

The Reaction

The Wöhler synthesis is a straightforward chemical reaction in which ammonium cyanate is heated, resulting in a rearrangement of its atoms to form urea. The chemical equation for this reaction is:

\[ \text{NH}_4\text{OCN} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{NCONH}_2 \]

This reaction was groundbreaking because it showed that organic molecules could be synthesized from inorganic precursors through simple chemical reactions, without the need for a "vital force".

Significance

The significance of the Wöhler synthesis cannot be overstated. It challenged the prevailing theory of vitalism and paved the way for the development of organic chemistry as a rigorous scientific discipline. It demonstrated that organic compounds could be studied in the same way as inorganic compounds, using the principles of chemistry.

Impact on Organic Chemistry

The success of the Wöhler synthesis led to a surge in the synthesis of organic compounds, contributing to the rapid development of organic chemistry in the 19th and 20th centuries. It opened the door to the synthesis of complex molecules, pharmaceuticals, and polymers, revolutionizing the chemical industry and laying the groundwork for modern biochemistry and molecular biology.

See Also

• Organic chemistry
• Inorganic chemistry
• Friedrich Wöhler
• Vitalism
• Urea