Correct Option
The correct option isHydrogen
Explanation
Urea ($NH_2CONH_2$) is a nitrogenous fertilizer produced industrially by the reaction of Ammonia ($NH_3$) and Carbon Dioxide ($CO_2$). The raw materials for these precursors determine the dependency of the fertilizer industry on natural resources.
Detailed Analysis
- Production of Ammonia: Ammonia is synthesized using the Haber-Bosch process, which requires Nitrogen ($N_2$) and Hydrogen ($H_2$).
- Source of Hydrogen: Hydrogen is obtained primarily from natural gas (which is mostly Methane, $CH_4$). The process involves Steam Reforming, where methane reacts with steam to produce hydrogen.
Reaction: $CH_4 + H_2O \rightarrow CO + 3H_2$ - Source of Nitrogen: Nitrogen is typically derived from the air through liquefaction and fractional distillation.
- Role of Carbon Dioxide: While Carbon Dioxide is also used in urea production, it is generally recovered as a byproduct of the hydrogen production process or from other industrial sources. However, Hydrogen is the primary chemical element extracted directly from the hydrocarbon structure of natural gas for the synthesis of the ammonia intermediate.
Therefore, Hydrogen is the component obtained from natural gas that is essential for the production of urea.
Key Takeaway
Natural gas is the primary feedstock for the production of Hydrogen in the fertilizer industry, which is subsequently used to synthesize Ammonia and then Urea.