What process turns a body into ash?

Cremation is the process that turns a body into ash. During cremation, the body is subjected to intense heat, typically in a cremation chamber, where temperatures can reach up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat effectively vaporizes organic matter and reduces the body to its basic elements, primarily bone fragments, which are then further processed into fine ash.

The distinction between cremation and other processes is essential. While embalming involves the preservation of the body using chemical substances, it does not result in ash but rather maintains the appearance of the body for viewing. Interment refers to the act of burying a body in the ground, which does not involve the transformation into ash at all. Exhumation is the process of digging up a buried body, which again does not lead to ashes. Therefore, cremation is specifically designed to reduce the deceased to ashes, making it the correct answer in this context.