Name the reaction which is usually used in the conversion of vegetables oils to fats. Explain the reaction involved in detail. Write a chemical equation to illustrate your answer.
Solution
Catalytic hydrogenation is the reaction usually used to convert vegetable oils to fats. Hydrogenation is a process in which hydrogen molecules are added to an unsaturated hydrocarbon in the presence of a catalyst to obtain a saturated hydrocarbon. In this process, the double bonds are removed from the unsaturated compounds (oils).
For example: When hydrogen is added to vegetable oils (unsaturated), a saturated product called ghee (semi-solid) is obtained.
The chemical equation of this hydrogenation reaction in the presence of catalyst nickel is shown below:
`R_C = CR_2 + H_2 -> R_2 HC - CHR_2`
