What is the process called that sterilizes a liquid by heating it, named after a French scientist?

• A. Fermentation
• B. Evaporation
• C. Pasteurization
• D. Filtration

Answer: (C)

The process that sterilizes a liquid by heating it is known as pasteurization, named after the French scientist Louis Pasteur. This method involves heating a liquid to a specific temperature for a designated period of time and then cooling it rapidly. The main purpose of pasteurization is to eliminate pathogenic microorganisms and improve the shelf life of the product, such as milk and juices, without significantly altering their taste or nutritional value.

While fermentation refers to a metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol, and evaporation involves the transition of a substance from a liquid to a gas, neither relates to the sterilization of liquids through heat. Filtration is a physical separation technique that removes solid particles from liquids but does not involve the application of heat to kill pathogens. Thus, pasteurization stands out as the correct answer in the context of sterilizing liquids through heat.