ScienceAugust 17, 2026

semihydrogenation

SEM-ee-hy-druh-juh-NAY-shun

Definition

A chemical reaction that involves the partial addition of hydrogen to a molecule, often used to convert alkynes into alkenes.

Etymology

The term is composed of the prefix 'semi-' from the Latin word for 'half' and the chemical term 'hydrogenation', which describes the addition of hydrogen to a compound.

In the news

In this article, the researchers focus on the process of acetylene semihydrogenation, aiming to improve how effectively a catalyst site manages both speed and selectivity during this chemical transformation.

Author Correction: Breaking the activity-selectivity trade-off for acetylene semihydrogenation by Pd2 dual-atom site

Read the full article ↗

Nature

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