When starch is combined with water and heated, individual starch granules absorb the liquid and swell in a process known as a. denaturing. b. coagulation. c. gelation. d. poaching.

The answer would be B, Coagulation.

Explanation:

Coagulation is the process in which when starch is combined with water and is heated, the individual starch granules absorb the liquid and swell.

This type of process is used to thicken the liquids to get the semi solid state. When there is a need to thicken a liquid, the starch is combined with water and is heated with the liquid that needs to be thicken, this is called coagulation.

In order to understand better, we can take an example from our home. When we prepare soup, we mix starch, or flour in water and add it in the boiling soup, in order to get the better consistency of the soup. The soup gets semi liquid through this process.