Question

True or False: The effect of the hydrogenation of oils is to add more double bonds.

Answer 1

The effect of the hydrogenation of oils is to add more double bonds : FALSE

Hydrogenation is a commercial chemical process to add more hydrogen to natural unsaturated fats to decrease the number of double bonds and retard or eliminate the potential for rancidityFully saturated fats are too waxy and solid to use as food additives, so manufacturers use partially hydrogenated oils. These oils are also produced at high temperatures with metal catalysts and pressurized hydrogen, but the process is stopped when the oil has the proper consistency for its application. The high temperatures and catalysts used for this chemical reaction weaken the double bonds and, as a side effect, cause a large percentage of the natural Cis double bonds to change to Trans double bonds. Trans fatty acids are present mainly in partially hydrogenated fats, but they are also present in hydrogenated fats because chemical reactions never achieve 100% efficiency