22 SEE ** AL A large number of organic compounds have been discovered and isolated from natural sources by the first quarter of the 19th century but till then, none of the organic compounds could be prepared in the laboratory. It was believed that organic compounds followed laws of formation different from inorganic compounds and that some vital force was necessary to produce the organic compounds. Synthesis of these organic compounds in the lab was impossible due to the absence of vital force, which only known to exist in the living organisms. In 1828, Friedrich Wöhler produced the compound urea, H2N-CO-NH2 in the laboratory. Why was the result of this experiment significant in the history of Organic chemistry? (5 marks) Write equations showing the synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate. (3 marks)​

This reaction achieved by  Friedrich Wöhler led to the birth of synthethic organic chemistry.

Prior to the successful synthesis of urea by Friedrich Wöhler in the year 1828, chemists believed that it is purely impossible to synthesize various organic substances in the laboratory owing to the absence of an imaginary "vital force". responsible for the formation of those substances.

However, the synthesis of urea by Friedrich Wöhler opened up the idea of laboratory organic synthesis which have blossomed into the present synthetic organic chemistry.

The equation for the synthesis of urea from ammonium cyanate is shown in the image attached.

Organic compounds which occur in nature could now be synthesized and studied under laboratory conditions.

Hence, this reaction achieved by  Friedrich Wöhler led to the birth of synthethic organic chemistry.

3 hours because it is a decent distance.