Question

With the help of an example, explain the process of hydrogenation. Mention the essential conditions for the reaction and state the change in physical property with the formation of the product.

Answer 1

Answer:

The process when hydrogen is added to an unsaturated hydrocarbon to form a saturated hydrocarbon is called hydrogenation.

Groundnut oil is a vegetable oil which is unsaturated and in liquid state. It contains double bonds (C=C). On hydrogenation, the groundnut oil produces vanaspati ghee which is solid at room temperature.

(The Reaction is attached in the figure)

The essential conditions for the reactions are presence of unsaturated hydrocarbon and presence of a catalyst like Pt, Pd, Rh, Ni.

The change in the physical properties observed are

(i) Change of unsaturated hydrocarbon in liquid state to saturated hydrocarbon in solid state

(ii) Increase in melting point or boiling point.