Question

What is the process in which hydrogen is introduced to vegetable oils to make them saturated known as?

Answer 1

`"Hydrogenation............"`

Explanation:

Hydrogenation of vegetable oils and animal fats is a standard industrial procedure. The more saturated a fat is, the longer its shelf-life. Why? Because a site of unsaturation, an olefinic bond, is potentially a reactive site that can be oxidized.

Of course, these days we are sold on the benefits of unsaturated fats. `"A priori"`, an unsaturated fat will yield less energy upon combustion, and the `C=C` double bond is harder to metabolize than `C-H` bonds.