Hydrogenation of alkenes can be carried out in the presence of

Hydrogenation is a chemical reaction where unsaturated hydrocarbons, such as alkenes, add hydrogen atoms to form saturated hydrocarbons (alkanes). This process requires the presence of a catalyst to facilitate the reaction at an efficient rate [1]. Nickel is a widely used catalyst for this purpose, particularly in the industrial hydrogenation of vegetable oils, which contain long unsaturated carbon chains [1]. A common form used is Raney nickel, a fine-grained solid derived from a nickel-aluminium alloy. While other transition metals like palladium and platinum are also effective catalysts for alkene hydrogenation, nickel is the most common industrial choice among the provided options [1]. In contrast, metals like zinc and aluminium are typically involved in the preparation of these catalysts or in generating hydrogen gas through reactions with acids, rather than acting as the primary hydrogenation catalyst themselves [4].

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Carbon and its Compounds > 4.3.3 Addition Reaction > p. 71
2. [3] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 1: Chemical Reactions and Equations > Figure 1.2 > p. 2
3. [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raney_nickel