Question

Draw the product formed when oleic acid is hydrogenated.

Answer 1

Oleic acid belongs to class of alkene and in alkenes, addition of $H-H$ across $C=C$ that is carbon carbon double bond results in the formation of alkane as a product in the presence of specific catalyst such as nickel, palladium and platinum.  The reaction is said to be hydrogenation reaction.

Oleic acid ($C_{17}H_{33}COOH$) consist of 17 carbon atoms attached to 33 hydrogen atoms with one double bond between two carbon atoms and one carboxylic group i.e.($-COOH$). When oleic acid is hydrogenated or reacts with hydrogen in the presence of catalyst, then the carbon carbon double breaks by the addition $H-H$ and alkane product i.e. stearic acid  ($C_{17}H_{35}COOH$) is formed.

The chemical reaction is shown in the image.