Friedrich Wöhler synthesizes urea

Background. Vitalism posits that living organisms are differentiated from non-living matter by specific forces or properties, often called a 'vital force' or 'vital spark'. Vitalist chemists predicted that organic materials could not be synthesized from inorganic components. This doctrine held that organic compounds could only be produced by living organisms due to this life force, a belief challenged by laboratory syntheses.

Historiography. The notion that Wöhler single-handedly overturned vitalism gained popularity after a 1931 popular history of chemistry, which historians describe as ignoring historical accuracy to turn Wöhler into a crusader. This 'Wöhler Myth' suggests he made attempts to synthesize natural products to refute vitalism. Critics argue the conversion of ammonium cyanate to urea was not an example of producing an organic compound from an inorganic precursor.

Reaction. The Wöhler synthesis is defined as the conversion of ammonium cyanate into urea. The actual reaction involves a double displacement to form ammonium cyanate. This chemical reaction was described in 1828 by Friedrich Wöhler and is often cited as the starting point of modern organic chemistry, though its direct impact on vitalism is disputed.