Consider the following statements: 1. Concentrated H2SO4 is used as a dehydrating agent in esterification reaction. 2. The hydrophilic part of soap is oil and it dissolves in water. 3. Nickel is used as a catalyst in converting vegetable oil into fat. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Statement 1 is correct: concentrated H2SO4 acts as a dehydrating agent (absorbs water produced) in esterification, shifting equilibrium toward ester formation. Statement 2 is incorrect: the hydrophilic part of soap is the polar carboxylate (-COO⁻Na⁺) ionic head, not oil — oil is hydrophobic. Statement 3 is correct: nickel catalyses the hydrogenation of unsaturated vegetable oils to convert them into saturated solid fats (vanaspati). Hence statements 1 and 3 only are correct.