Final answer:
Vegetable oils can be converted into solid fats through a process called hydrogenation, which involves adding hydrogen gas to the double bonds in the oil. This converts unsaturated fats into saturated fats and increases the melting point of the oil, turning it into a solid at room temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vegetable oils, which are liquid at room temperature, can be converted into solid fats by a process called hydrogenation. Hydrogenation involves adding hydrogen gas to the double bonds in the fatty acid chains of the oil, which converts the unsaturated fats into saturated fats. This increases the melting point of the oil and turns it into a solid fat at room temperature.
An example of hydrogenation is the conversion of vegetable oil into margarine or shortening. During the hydrogenation process, the unsaturated fatty acids in the oil react with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst like nickel, platinum, or palladium. This process results in the formation of saturated fatty acids, which have higher melting points and contribute to the solidification of the oil.