hydrogenation
Meaning
The process of adding hydrogen to a substance, especially to an unsaturated organic compound.
Structure
Usage
The hydrogenation of vegetable oils produces solid fats like margarine.
Partial hydrogenation can create unhealthy trans fats.
The chemist explained the catalytic hydrogenation reaction to the students.
Etymology
The word 'hydrogenation' is a modern scientific formation, built upon the earlier term 'hydrogen', coined in the late 18th century. 'Hydrogen' itself derives from Greek roots meaning 'water-former', reflecting its property of producing water when burned with oxygen. The suffix '-ation' is appended to indicate the specific chemical process of introducing hydrogen atoms into another compound, typically to saturate double bonds in fats or oils. Thus, the term's logic moves from the literal 'water-producer' to the abstract industrial and biochemical process of adding that specific element.
Analysis
- hydrogen: From French hydrogène, from Greek hydōr (water) + -genēs (born, produced). In this compound, it signifies the element hydrogen. - ation: A suffix of Latin origin (-ātiōn-) forming nouns denoting an action or process.