What is the Difference Between Urea and Uric Acid?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Urea and uric acid are two different nitrogenous compounds that vary in terms of their structure, solubility, and excretion in different organisms. Here are the main differences between them:
- Structure and formula: Urea has the chemical formula (NH2)2CO, while uric acid has the formula C5H4N4O3. Urea has two amine residues joined by a carbonyl functional group, whereas uric acid is made from xanthine oxidase and is toxic to tissues.
- Solubility: Urea is water-soluble and colorless, while uric acid has a low water solubility and is usually found as a white paste or powder.
- Excretion: Urea is the main nitrogenous excretory product in humans and other mammals, excreted in urine. On the other hand, uric acid is the main nitrogenous excretory product in birds, reptiles, and terrestrial arthropods, excreted with fecal matter as a solid.
- Toxicity: Uric acid is less toxic than urea. Uric acid can be stored in body tissues and cells without any toxic effects, while excess urea can lead to renal failure.
- Energetic cost: The conversion of ammonia to uric acid requires more energy and is more complex than the conversion of ammonia to urea.
In summary, urea is a water-soluble compound excreted in urine by humans and mammals, while uric acid is a solid, less soluble compound excreted with fecal matter in birds, reptiles, and terrestrial arthropods. Uric acid is less toxic than urea and requires more energy to produce.
Comparative Table: Urea vs Uric Acid
Urea and uric acid are two different nitrogenous compounds involved in the excretion of both humans and other animals. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:
Property | Urea | Uric Acid |
---|---|---|
Chemical Formula | C5H4N4O3 | C5H4N4O3 |
Water Solubility | Highly soluble in water | Low solubility in water |
Excretion in Humans | Excreted with urine as a liquid | Not the main excretory product in humans |
Excretion in Birds and Reptiles | Not the main excretory product in birds and reptiles | Excreted as a solid with fecal matter |
Production | Produced during the breakdown of proteins and amino acids | Produced during the breakdown of purine nucleotides |
Metabolic Pathway | Urea cycle, which involves five intermediate steps and five different enzymes | No specific enzymatic pathway mentioned |
Energy Requirement | Less energy required for production | More energy required for production |
Water Loss | Higher water loss when excreted | Lower water loss when excreted |
In summary, urea is the main nitrogenous excretory product in humans and is excreted with urine as a liquid, while uric acid is the main excretory product in birds and reptiles and is excreted as a solid with fecal matter. Urea production requires less energy than uric acid production, and water loss is higher when excreting urea compared to uric acid.
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