What is hydrogenation?

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Detailed Solution

Hydrogenation is the chemical process in which hydrogen gas is added to an unsaturated compound, usually in the presence of a catalyst, to make it saturated.

Hydrogenation commonly refers to the addition of hydrogen to unsaturated fats or oils to convert them into solid fats. This process uses catalysts like nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), or platinum (Pt) under controlled temperature and pressure.

Example

Conversion of vegetable oil (liquid) into vanaspati ghee (solid) using hydrogen gas and nickel catalyst.
C₂H₄ + H₂ → C₂H₆ (Ethene becomes ethane)

Applications

Field	Use
Food industry	Making margarine and ghee from oils
Chemical industry	Production of fuels and solvents
Petroleum refining	Improves fuel stability

Importance

Hydrogenation increases the shelf life of oils, improves texture, and makes products more stable at room temperature.

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