Excerpt from The Hydrogenation of Oils: Catalyzers and Catalysis and the Generation of Hydrogen The whole structure of hydrogenation resides in the catalytic action of practically only a limited number of metals and their compounds, which awaken the usually passive element hydrogen from its dormant condition and thus enable its combination with unsaturated bodies. Often the term catalysis is said to be an overworked expression under cover of which chemists may find refuge when pressed for an explana tion of obscure phenomena. But whether or not the term is over worked it is indeed certain that with rational treatment catalyzers are the hardest workers in the domain of chemistry and may effect the transformation of a prodigious amount of raw material without detriment to themselves unless perchance their labors are checked by the accidental presence of certain unfriendly bodies or catalyzer poisons as these are termed. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.