Question

Give scientific reasons:

The hydrogenation of vegetable oil in presence of nickel catalyst forms Vanaspati-ghee.

Answer 1

1. Vegetable oils contain unsaturated fatty acids with carbon–carbon double bonds. These double bonds make the oil liquid at room temperature.
2. In Hydrogenation, hydrogen gas is added to the double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids. This converts them into saturated compounds.
3. The reaction occurs in the presence of a Nickel catalyst. Nickel increases the rate of the hydrogenation reaction.
4. Due to hydrogenation, liquid vegetable oil becomes more saturated and solid. This changes the physical nature of the oil.
5. The solid product obtained is Vanaspati (Vanaspati-ghee). It has a texture and appearance similar to ghee.