hydrogenize
Definition
- Verb (transitive):
- To combine or treat with hydrogen: "hydrogenize" means to cause a substance to react with or absorb hydrogen, often resulting in a chemical change such as saturation or reduction.
Usage Examples
- Verb:
- The chemist decided to hydrogenize the vegetable oil to make it solid. (To combine the oil with hydrogen, turning it into a solid fat like margarine.)
- In industrial processes, engineers often hydrogenize certain compounds to improve their stability. (To treat the compounds with hydrogen for enhanced chemical properties.)
Advanced Usage
"to hydrogenize a substance": a technical term in chemistry referring to the addition of hydrogen to a molecule.
- The laboratory successfully hydrogenized the unsaturated fatty acids. (The lab added hydrogen to the acids, making them saturated.)
"hydrogenized fuel": fuel that has been treated with hydrogen to alter its combustion characteristics.
- The new hydrogenized fuel burns more cleanly than traditional gasoline. (The fuel modified with hydrogen produces fewer pollutants.)
Variants and Related Words
Hydrogenation (noun): the process of adding hydrogen to a substance, often used in food and chemical industries.
- Hydrogenation of oils is common in the production of margarine. (The process of adding hydrogen to oils.)
Hydrogenize (also spelled hydrogenise): alternative spelling, especially in British English.
- The report used the spelling "hydrogenise" for the same chemical reaction. (A variant spelling with the same meaning.)
Synonyms
Hydrogenate: to treat with hydrogen (more common in modern chemistry).
- The catalyst helps to hydrogenate the mixture efficiently. (To add hydrogen using a catalyst.)
Saturate with hydrogen: to cause a substance to become fully combined with hydrogen.
- The reaction saturates the compound with hydrogen atoms. (The reaction adds hydrogen until no more can be absorbed.)
Related Idioms
- None common, as "hydrogenize" is a technical term primarily used in scientific contexts.