When eggs are heated, the transparent liquid portion around yolk turns

When eggs are heated, the transparent liquid portion around yolk turns solid white. This happens due to the thermal denaturation of

fats
proteins
ribose sugar
carbohydrates
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2024
B) proteins
– The transparent liquid portion of an egg white primarily consists of proteins, particularly albumen.
– When heat is applied, the proteins undergo a process called denaturation, where their complex structures unfold.
– This unfolding causes the proteins to aggregate and coagulate, transforming the liquid egg white into a solid, opaque mass.
– Fats, ribose sugar, and carbohydrates are also present in eggs, but the solidification upon heating is specifically due to the thermal denaturation of proteins.
– Denaturation is the loss of the three-dimensional structure of a protein or nucleic acid due to stress, such as heat, chemicals, or radiation. In the case of egg white, heat disrupts the bonds holding the protein structure together, leading to irreversible solidification.