Students measure the rate of hydrogenation of 4-vinylcyclohexene in the presence of an inexpensive, non-pyrophoric nickel boride (PI) catalyst prepared from nickel(II) acetate and sodium borohydride. The vinyl group hydrogenates rapidly followed by the distinctly slower hydrogenation of the cyclohexene. An atmospheric hydrogenation apparatus for the experiment is easily constructed from a 50-mL buret, a rubber thermometer adapter, a small pear-shaped flask, two short Pasteur pipets, two small syringe caps, a leveling bulb or separatory funnel, a small rubber stopper, and some Tygon tubing.
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