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Hydrogenation of Oils

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The addition reaction is one of carbon’s chemical properties. Only unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkenes and alkynes) give the addition reactions. The process of hydrogenation involves an addition reaction. Hydrogenation is the process of adding hydrogen to an unsaturated hydrocarbon to obtain a saturated hydrocarbon. 

Hydrogenation of Oils

An addition reaction occurs when an unsaturated hydrocarbon reacts with another substance to produce a single product. All unsaturated hydrocarbons with a double or triple bond give rise to addition reactions. This indicates that all alkenes and alkynes provide addition reactions. Now we’ll look at an addition reaction that involves adding hydrogen to unsaturated hydrocarbons with carbon-carbon double bonds. When ethene is heated in the presence of a nickel catalyst, it combines with hydrogen to produce ethane.

CH2=CH2         +       H2             →           CH3-CH3
(Ethene)                  (Hydrogen)                   (Ethane)

In this reaction, one hydrogen atom (H) is added to each carbon atom (C) in ethene, enabling the double bond to break and ethane to become a single bond. In general, unsaturated hydrocarbons add hydrogen to produce saturated hydrocarbons in the presence of catalysts such as nickel (Ni). Hydrogenation is the process of adding hydrogen to an unsaturated hydrocarbon to produce a saturated hydrocarbon.

The hydrogenation reaction occurs in the presence of nickel metal, which acts as catalysts. The hydrogenation process is widely used in industry, and it is used to make vegetable ghee or vanaspati ghee from vegetable oils.

Groundnut oil, cotton oil, and mustard oil are examples of unsaturated molecules with double bonds. At room temperature, they are in a liquid condition. Vegetable oils, like alkenes, undergo hydrogen addition to generate a saturated product called vegetable ghee or vanaspati ghee, which is solid or semi-solid at room temperature due to the presence of double bonds. The addition of hydrogen to vegetable oil, known as hydrogenation, results in vegetable ghee, also known as vanaspati ghee.

Example of Hydrogenation of Oils

Unsaturated fats with double bonds between some of their carbon atoms are called vegetable oils. A saturated fat called vegetable ghee or vanaspati ghee is generated when a vegetable oil, such as groundnut oil, is heated with hydrogen in the presence of finely divided nickel as a catalyst. This process is known as the hydrogenation of oil and can be represented as follows.

Hydrogenation of Oils.

Unsaturated fatty acids found in vegetable oils are beneficial to human health. As a result, cooking should be done with oil. Sunflower oil, soyabean oil, and groundnut oil are some of the most used cooking oils. Sundrop, Saffola, Fortune, and Dalda refined oil are some of the brand names available in the market. Saturated fats, such as vegetable ghee, which are made by hydrogenation of oils, are bad for your health. They are sold under the brand name Dalda among others, in the market. Saturated fats from animals, such as butter and desi ghee, contain saturated fatty acids, which are said to be harmful to one’s health if consumed in large amounts.

Uses of Hydrogenated Oils

As a preservative, hydrogenated oil is used by food manufacturers. It’s also used to improve flavour and texture. Food manufacturers use hydrogenated oils in their products for a variety of reasons, which are listed below.

  • Cost-cutting
  • Food preservation
  • Enhancing the sense of taste
  • Texture enhancement

To improve taste and texture, manufacturers utilize a combination of oils rather than partially hydrogenated oils.

Solved Questions

Question 1: Which catalyst is used in the hydrogenation of oil?

Answer:

 Nickel catalyst is used in the commercial hydrogenation of edible oils.

Question 2: In the hydrogenation of oils, what gas is used?

Answer:

In the presence of nickel as a catalyst, hydrogen gas is used to hydrogenate oils.

Question 3: In the hydrogenation of oil, why is nickel used as a catalyst?

Answer:

Since the atomic structure of nickel is such that it attracts the atoms of hydrogen and unsaturated compounds to its surface where they come in contact with each other and react to form the saturated compound.

Question 4: Name some foods that contain hydrogenated oil.

Answer:

Some foods that contain higher levels of hydrogenated oils are canned frostings, baked goods, snack foods, etc.

Question 5: How do you know if an oil is fully hydrogenated?

Answer:

The chemical process of hydrogenation transforms liquid vegetable oil into solid fat. Oils that have been partially hydrogenated are semi-soft, and fully hydrogenated oils are firmer.

Question 6: Among the hydrocarbons CH4, C2H2, which one undergoes the addition reaction?

Answer:

Only the unsaturated hydrocarbons, i.e., alkenes and alkynes undergo the addition reaction. Out of the given hydrocarbons, CH4 is an alkane and C2H2 is an alkyne. So, C2H2 undergoes the addition reaction.


Last Updated : 10 Nov, 2021
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