Question

During the hydrogenation of vegetable oil to vanaspathi ghee, hydrogen gas acts as a/ an .

• A. oxidising agent
• B. reducing agent
• C. catalyst

Answer 1

The correct option is B reducing agent

Hydrogenation is the process by which hydrocarbons with atleast one double or triple bond is converted to a hydrocarbon with only single bonds in it, by making it react with hydrogen gas, in the presence of a catalyst. During hydrogenation, hydrogen acts as a reducing agent.

$\mathrm{Alkane}+\mathrm{Hydrogen}\underset{}{\overset{\mathrm{Pt}/\mathrm{Pd}/\mathrm{Ni}}{\to }}\mathrm{Alkene}$
This process is commonly used to convert vanaspati oil to vanaspati ghee.