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Theory & Procedure, Detection of Urea in Urine | Additional Study Material for NEET PDF Download

Objective

To detect the presence of urea in the given sample of urine.

Theory

Urine is a liquid produced by the kidneys to remove waste products from the bloodstream. Human urine is yellow in color and contains various chemical components. It primarily consists of water, organic substance such as urea, uric acid, trace amounts of enzymes, carbohydrates and hormones. The handling of urea by the kidneys is an important part of mammalian metabolism.

Let’s see how urea is produced in our body.

Urea is present mainly in the urine of all mammals, but it also occurs in blood, bile and milk. Urea is naturally produced during the process of breakdown of proteins. Due to this process, amino groups are removed from the amino acid present in the proteins. These amino groups are converted to highly toxic ammonia (NH3), and the ammonia thus produced is finally converted to urea by the liver. The urea thus formed then passes to the kidneys and is finally excreted from the body through the urine.

Theory & Procedure, Detection of Urea in Urine | Additional Study Material for NEET

A healthy adult person normally excretes about 15g of nitrogen per day. Among this, about 95% of this nitrogen is excreted as urea through urine. If the liver is not healthy, it may not efficiently break down proteins. Similarly, if the kidneys are not healthy, they may not properly filter urea. Either of these problems leads to changes in the amount of urea nitrogen in our body.  If the urine is kept exposed to the atmosphere, it splits and ammonia gets released due to bacterial activity. Due to this process the stored urine becomes alkaline.  
Generally urease tests are used to detect the presence of urea in the urine sample. The enzyme urease decomposes urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. On adding an alkaline substance, ammonium carbonate to it, changes the slightly acidic urine to an alkaline solution.  The colour of phenol red indicator changes from yellow to red in this reaction mixture.

Learning outcomes

  • Students understand the characteristics of urea.
  • Students understand how urea is produced in our body.
  • Students understand the test to detect the presence of urea in the urine sample.
  • Students will be able to do the experiment more accurately in the real lab once they understand the steps through the animation and simulation.

Sodium Hypobromite Test

Materials Required:

Theory & Procedure, Detection of Urea in Urine | Additional Study Material for NEET

Procedure:

  • Take 2 ml urine sample in a measuring cylinder from the urine sample bottle.
  • Take a test tube and pour the urine sample into the test tube.
  • Using a dropper, take sodium hypobromite solution.
  • Add few drops of sodium hypobromide solution to the urine sample.
  • Brisk effervescence of nitrogen appears in the test tube which indicates presence of urea in the urine.

Urease test

Materials required:

Theory & Procedure, Detection of Urea in Urine | Additional Study Material for NEET

Procedure:

  • Take 5 ml urine sample in a measuring cylinder from the urine sample bottle.
  • Take a test tube and pour the urine sample into the test tube.
  • Using a dropper, take some phenol red indicator.
  • Add 4-5 drops of phenol red indicator to the test tube.
  • Use a fresh dropper to take few drops of 2% Na2CO3.
  • Add Na2CO3 solution drop by drop until a pink colour develops in the test tube.
  • Take few drops of 1% acetic acid using a fresh dropper.
  • Add 1% acetic acid to the test tube drop by drop until the pink colour disappears.
  • Using a spatula, take some urease powder from the watch glass.
  • Add urease powder to the test tube and shake it well.
  • The pink or red colour appearing in the solution indicates the presence of urea in urine.

Simulator Procedure (as performed through the Online Labs)

You can select the type of test from the ‘Select type of test’ drop down list.

Sodium Hypobromite Test

  • Drag the dropper containing the sodium hypobromite solution towards the test tube to pour the solution into it
  • Click on the information icon to see the inference.
  • You can redo the experiment by clicking on the ‘Reset’ button.

Urease Test

  • Drag the dropper containing the Phenol red indicator towards the test tube to pour the indicator solution into it
  • Drag the dropper containing the Na2CO3 towards the test tube to pour the solution into it
  • Drag the dropper containing the Acetic acid towards the test tube to pour the solution into it
  • Drag the spatula containing the urease powder towards the test tube to put the powder into it
  • Drag the test tube to shake.
  • Click on the information icon to see the inference.
  • You can redo the experiment by clicking on the ‘Reset’ button.    
The document Theory & Procedure, Detection of Urea in Urine | Additional Study Material for NEET is a part of the NEET Course Additional Study Material for NEET.
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FAQs on Theory & Procedure, Detection of Urea in Urine - Additional Study Material for NEET

1. What is the theory behind the detection of urea in urine?
Ans. The theory behind the detection of urea in urine is based on the enzymatic reaction between urea and urease. Urease is an enzyme that breaks down urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The amount of ammonia produced is then measured using various analytical techniques to determine the concentration of urea in the urine sample.
2. What is the procedure for detecting urea in urine?
Ans. The procedure for detecting urea in urine involves several steps. First, a urine sample is collected and prepared for analysis. Then, urease enzyme is added to the sample, which catalyzes the breakdown of urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia produced is then measured using a colorimetric or electrochemical method. The concentration of ammonia is directly proportional to the amount of urea in the urine sample, allowing for the determination of urea levels.
3. Why is the detection of urea in urine important?
Ans. The detection of urea in urine is important as it provides valuable information about kidney function and overall health. Urea is a waste product formed in the liver from the breakdown of proteins. Elevated levels of urea in urine can indicate kidney dysfunction or disease. Monitoring urea levels can help in the diagnosis and management of conditions such as kidney disease, dehydration, and urinary tract infections.
4. What are the common techniques used for detecting urea in urine?
Ans. There are several common techniques used for detecting urea in urine. These include colorimetric methods, such as the diacetyl monoxime (DAM) method, which involves the formation of a colored complex between urea and DAM reagent. Electrochemical methods, such as urease-based biosensors, are also used to measure the concentration of ammonia produced during the enzymatic reaction. Additionally, automated analyzers and laboratory tests can be used to quantify urea levels in urine.
5. Are there any factors that can affect the accuracy of urea detection in urine?
Ans. Yes, there are several factors that can affect the accuracy of urea detection in urine. These include the presence of interfering substances in the urine sample, such as drugs or contaminants, which can lead to false readings. Additionally, improper sample collection or storage can also impact the accuracy of the results. It is important to follow proper collection and handling procedures to ensure accurate urea detection in urine.
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