Addition of hydrogen to unsaturated hydrocarbons in presence of a catalyst such as nickel or palladium to form saturated hydrocarbons is called hydrogenation For Example:
Industrial application:
The process of hydrogenation is used in industry to convert vegetable oils to vanaspathi ghee
The vegetable oil contains a number of unsaturated carbon chain having double bonds between carbon atoms when H2 is bubbled through vegetable oils in presence of nickel as catalyst at 437 K some of the double bonds add H2 to form saturated carbon chain. As a result of this partial hydrogenation, oils are converted into solid fats.
