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Q: Where in the digestion system do pepsin and hydrochloric acid begin the splitting of the proteins?
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What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

There is an enzyme called pepsin in our stomach which helps in digestion of food. Hydrochloric acid helps to activate pepsin as well as kills the germs present in food.


Why is there hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

Pepsin, which is used to break down proteins, cannot work unless it is in an acid environment. Due to this fact, the stomach secretes both pepsin and hydrochloric acid to digest the protein in a meal.


What are two functions of hydrochloric acid?

Hydrochloric acid is released by the stomach. It mixes with pepsinogen to produce pepsin. Pepsin breaks down proteins. The hydrochloric acid also helps turn the solid food into a liquid that makes digestion possible. In addition, the HCl being very acidic provides protective mechanism to the body by being anti-bacterial in action. lastly , it converts the ferric iron to its ferrous form..and helps in its absorption..The hydrochloric acid in ther stomach has two main purposes:It sterilises food by killing pathogens and other microbes.It has a pH of 2, which is perfect for proteases such as pepsin to break down proteins as effectively as possible.Dr.ZULCAIFFrom Hajveri University


How would the digestion of food be affected if your stomach did not produce hydrochloric acid?

A person's inability to produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach is called achlorhydria. This condition affects the enzyme pepsin, which helps to break down proteins. Pepsin requires a low pH to be activated.


Why does protein digestion require the presence of both pepsin and HCl?

Protein digestion requires the presence of both pepsin and HCl because pepsin needs an acidic environment to be able to "work" or do its job. Pepsin needs an environment with a pH around 2, which is roughly the pH of HCl. Therefore, HCl aids pepsin in protien digestions by creating an optimal environment for pepsin to work and digest proteins.

Related questions

Churns food and begins protein digestion?

When pepsinogen is mixed with hydrochloric acid, it makes pepsin. Pepsin is the enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in stomach.


What Gastric juice digest proteins?

There are two things in gastric juices, Pepsin and hydrochloric acid. If one is alone, it would not do any digestion of proteins. But together, they can digest proteins.


What enzyme completes the digestion of proteins?

Trypsin completes the digestion of proteins. Pepsin in the stomach starts the digestion of proteins.


How are gastric juice and pepsin related?

gastric juice is secreted by the walls of the stomach and it contains pepsin and dilute hydrochloric acid. Pepsin helps in breaking down proteins into pep-tones or peptides during the process of digestion in the stomach.


How do pepsin hydrochloric acid work together to digest food in the stomach?

Contrary to popular belief, the acid is not directly responsible for the digestion of nutrients in the stomach. The hydrochloric acid is there to provide suitable acidic conditions for pepsin to work efficiently. The pepsin breaks down proteins into smaller amino acids.


What enzyme begins the breakdown of protein?

HCL (hydrochloric acid) begins digestion in stomach.


Hydrochloric acid must be present for the formation of a protein-splitting enzyme called?

pepsin


What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

There is an enzyme called pepsin in our stomach which helps in digestion of food. Hydrochloric acid helps to activate pepsin as well as kills the germs present in food.


What chemicals are in the stomach that break down food?

The correct answer is stomach acid


What happens to pepsin strucutrally as it leaves the stomach?

Pepsin helps in digestion of proteins, hydrochloric acid and mucus. HCl helps in killing bacteria present in food. When food leaves stomach it is partially digested soupy liquid called as chyme.


Why is there hydrochloric acid in the stomach?

Pepsin, which is used to break down proteins, cannot work unless it is in an acid environment. Due to this fact, the stomach secretes both pepsin and hydrochloric acid to digest the protein in a meal.


What would be happen if HCL were not secreted in stomach?

Hydrochloric acid is secreted by the glands present on the stomach walls. It dissolves bits of food and creates an acidic medium. The acidic medium allows pepsinogen to be converted into pepsin. Pepsin plays an important role in the digestion of proteins. Therefore, if HCl were not secreted in the stomach, then pepsin would not be activated. This would affect protein digestion. A pH of about 1.8 is necessary for proteins to be digested. This pH is achieved by HCl.