hydrogenise

The chemist hydrogenises the liquid in a sealed glass flask.

Definition

1. Verb (transitive):
   • To combine or treat with hydrogen: "hydrogenise" means to cause a substance to chemically react with hydrogen, typically to change its properties (e.g., to solidify or alter its chemical structure).

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • The factory uses a catalyst to hydrogenise vegetable oils into margarine. (The factory combines oils with hydrogen to make them solid.)
  • Scientists hydrogenise certain compounds to study their stability. (Researchers treat compounds with hydrogen for analysis.)

Advanced Usage

• "to hydrogenise a substance": to add hydrogen atoms to a molecule, often in industrial processes.
  • The process hydrogenises unsaturated fats to produce saturated ones. (The procedure adds hydrogen to fats, making them less liquid.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hydrogenisation (noun): the act or process of hydrogenising.
  • Hydrogenisation of coal can produce synthetic fuel. (The process of adding hydrogen to coal creates artificial fuel.)
• Hydrogenised (adj): having been treated with hydrogen.
  • Hydrogenised oils are common in processed foods. (Oils that have had hydrogen added are often used in packaged products.)

Synonyms

• Hydrogenate: a more common synonym meaning to combine with hydrogen.
  • The chemist decided to hydrogenate the sample. (The chemist added hydrogen to the sample.)
• Reduce: in chemistry, to add hydrogen or electrons to a substance.
  • Reducing the compound hydrogenises it. (Adding hydrogen changes the compound.)

Related Idioms

• — this term is primarily technical and used in chemistry or industry.