<Dl> <Dd> NH 4 (CNO) ⟶ NH 3 + HNCO ↽ − − ⇀ (NH 2) 2 CO (\ displaystyle (\ ce ((NH4 (CNO)) -> (NH3) + HNCO <=> ((NH2) 2CO)))) </Dd> </Dl> <Dd> NH 4 (CNO) ⟶ NH 3 + HNCO ↽ − − ⇀ (NH 2) 2 CO (\ displaystyle (\ ce ((NH4 (CNO)) -> (NH3) + HNCO <=> ((NH2) 2CO)))) </Dd> <P> Complexation with oxalic acid helps to drive this chemical equilibrium to completion . </P> <P> The Wöhler synthesis is of great historical significance because for the first time an organic compound was produced from inorganic reactants . This finding went against the mainstream theory of that time called vitalism which stated that organic matter possessed a special force or vital force inherent to all things living . For this reason a sharp boundary existed between organic and inorganic compounds . Urea was discovered in 1799 and could until then only be obtained from biological sources such as urine . Wöhler reported to his mentor Berzelius </P>

Who prepared urea for the first time by heating ammonium cynate