In a famous experiment, Wöhler heated ‘inorganic’ ammonium cyanate in the absence of air. The
only product of the reaction was ‘organic’ urea, CO(NH2)2. No other products were formed in the
reaction.

What is the formula of the cyanate ion present in ammonium cyanate?

A CNO– B CNO2– C CO– D NO–

why A?

Question

In a famous experiment, Wöhler heated ‘inorganic’ ammonium cyanate in the absence of air. The 
only product of the reaction was ‘organic’ urea, CO(NH2)2. No other products were formed in the 
reaction. 

What is the formula of the cyanate ion present in ammonium cyanate? 

A CNO– B CNO2– C CO– D NO–

why A?

abmon98 · Answer

CO(NH2)2 the only product consists of 1 Carbon 1 Oxygen , 2 Nitrogen and 4 Hydrogen
We are heating Ammonium Cyanate, Ammonium Ion NH4+
NH4+ consists of 1 Nitrogen 4 Hydrogen. Compare the reactant decomposed and product formed. There should be 2 Nitrogen so Cyanate must contain one Nitrogen atom, one Carbon and one oxygen.