Oleic acid belongs to class of alkene and in alkenes, addition of across 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 () consist of 17 carbon atoms attached to 33 hydrogen atoms with one double bond between two carbon atoms and one carboxylic group i.e.(). When oleic acid is hydrogenated or reacts with hydrogen in the presence of catalyst, then the carbon carbon double breaks by the addition and alkane product i.e. stearic acid () is formed.
