Final answer:
Syneresis is the process where a liquid separates from a gel, such as whey from yogurt; it's different from condensation, which is gas turning into a liquid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The separation of a liquid from a gel, such as when whey collects on the surface of yogurt, is known as syneresis. This process occurs in colloidal dispersions when the fluid phase separates from the solid or semi-solid phase. It is not related to condensation, which is the change of state from a gas to a liquid, nor to gelatinization, which involves the transformation of certain substances into a gel upon the addition of a liquid. Syneresis is notable in gel-like systems where the network of the dispersing medium contracts and expels the liquid.