Question

Why should urea be heated above 50C ?

A) To promote bacterial growth
B) To sterilize the media
C) To inactivate bacterial enzymes
D) To release ammonia for detection

Answer 1

Urea should be heated above 50°C to inactivate bacterial enzymes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Urea should be heated above 50°C to inactivate bacterial enzymes (C). Urease is an enzyme that hydrolyzes urea to ammonia and CO₂. By heating the urea above 50°C, the enzymes responsible for this reaction are denatured, rendering them inactive. This is important in certain laboratory tests, as it allows for the detection of ammonia (produced by the hydrolysis of urea) in the presence of bacteria.