Oleic acid belongs to class of alkene and in alkenes, addition of [tex]H-H[/tex] across [tex]C=C[/tex] 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 ([tex]C_{17}H_{33}COOH[/tex]) consist of 17 carbon atoms attached to 33 hydrogen atoms with one double bond between two carbon atoms and one carboxylic group i.e.([tex]-COOH[/tex]). When oleic acid is hydrogenated or reacts with hydrogen in the presence of catalyst, then the carbon carbon double breaks by the addition [tex]H-H[/tex] and alkane product i.e. stearic acid ([tex]C_{17}H_{35}COOH[/tex]) is formed.
The chemical reaction is shown in the image.
