Hydrogenation

Name:
Hydrogenation
Detailed information:
Any reaction of hydrogen with an organic compound. It may occur either as direct addition of hydrogen to the double bonds of unsaturated molecules, resulting in a saturated product, or it may cause rupture of the bonds of organic compounds, with subsequent reaction of hydrogen with the molecular fragments. Examples of the first type (called addition hydrogenation) are the conversion of aromatics to cycloparaffins and the hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils to solid fats by addition of hydrogen to their double bonds. Examples of the second type (called hydrogenolysis) are hydrocracking of petroleum and hydrogenolysis of coal to hydrocarbon fuels.See Hydrogenolysis; Hydrocracking; Hydroforming.