Hydrogenation of alkenes can be carried out in the presence of
copper
zinc
aluminium
nickel
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2022
Common catalysts used for the hydrogenation of alkenes are transition metals, particularly from Group 8, 9, and 10 of the periodic table. These metals, such as platinum ($\text{Pt}$), palladium ($\text{Pd}$), rhodium ($\text{Rh}$), and nickel ($\text{Ni}$), adsorb both the alkene and hydrogen molecules onto their surface, facilitating the reaction.
Looking at the options provided:
A) Copper: Copper can catalyze some hydrogenation reactions, but it is generally less active than Ni, Pt, or Pd for alkene hydrogenation.
B) Zinc: Zinc is not a typical catalyst for the hydrogenation of alkenes.
C) Aluminium: Aluminium is not used as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of alkenes; it is a reactive metal itself.
D) Nickel: Nickel is a very common and widely used catalyst for the hydrogenation of alkenes, especially in industrial processes (e.g., hydrogenation of vegetable oils to margarine – the Sabatier-Senderens process often uses Ni).
Therefore, nickel is a standard catalyst for the hydrogenation of alkenes.
– This reaction requires a catalyst.
– Transition metals like Ni, Pt, Pd, and Rh are common hydrogenation catalysts.
– Nickel is a common and cost-effective catalyst for alkene hydrogenation.