Question

Which of the following oils would consume the greatest number of equivalents of hydrogen when subject to catalytic hydrogenation? A) corn oil B) olive oil C) Lard D) Herring oil

Answer 1

Answer: Option (B) is the correct answer.

Explanation:

When a fatty acid contains high number of double bonds then its unsaturation will also be high and hence, it will consume greater number of equivalents of hydrogen.

In corn oil, there are no unsaturated sites are present.

In olive oil, there is one unsaturated site with majority of oleic acid. In olive oil, there are more than 70% of total unsaturated oils.

In lard oil, there are around 60% of unsaturated oils.

In herring oil, there are highest number of saturated fatty acids and lowest polyunsaturated acids.

Thus, we can conclude that out of the given options, olive oils would consume the greatest number of equivalents of hydrogen when subject to catalytic hydrogenation.