Question

How does the process of conversion of milk into yogurt occur?

Answer 1

The process of conversion of milk into yogurt is endothermic. This phenomenon is also utilized in the brewing and baking industries. The end product of this process is yogurt

Complete step-by-step answer:
The milk is converted into yogurt by the process of fermentation, more specifically lactic acid fermentation. This process occurs in the anaerobic condition, where the oxygen is not required. The energy is produced during this process which is extracted from the carbohydrates or sugars. It is mainly used in food production industries where the enzymes along with microorganisms are used to produce a desirable food or beverage.
The study or the science of the branch of fermentation is known as the zymology. The nutrients are degraded anatomically producing energy in the form of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate). This process has been used since the Neolithic age. It is used in the process of the formation of preserving certain food like pickles, yogurt, wines, beers, etc. This process occurs in all the animals including humans in their gastrointestinal tract.
This method is commonly found in all the bacteria (prokaryotes) and eukaryotes. The milk is converted into yogurt as the milk consists of casein, a globular protein. The lactobacillus bacteria are also found in the milk which converts the milk sugar lactose into lactic acid. Due to the chemical reaction which occurs between the casein and the lactic acid due to the presence of enzymes, the pH of milk decreases resulting in its coagulation and releasing energy. This leads to the formation of yogurt.

Note: The process of fermentation was discovered by the French chemist Louis Pasteur in 1857, he first demonstrated it by the transformation of glucose into ethanol inside the living cell of the yeast. The term fermentation was derived from the Latin word fever, meaning ‘to boil'.