I know it's in the stomach, but specifically which nutrients does it digest and how does it do it?
2006-11-13 08:28:34 · 5 answers · asked by Truth 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Hydrochloric acid has several functions during digestion. Gastric acid has a pH of around 2.0, which is highly acidic. Since proteins have a narrow pH threshhold, gastric acid denatures them and exposes peptide bonds for proteolysis.
The real work of breaking the peptide bonds is done by pepsin though. However, since pepsin targets proteins and there are many proteins in body that we don't want pepsin to break up, pepsin has to be produced and transported around in the form of it's inactive precursor, pepsinogen. Once the pepsinogen encounters the HCl in the stomach, it is activated into pepsin and proteolysis can occur.
Stomach acid is also useful in killing any bacteria that have entered the stomach through the esophagus and keeping the beneficial bacteria in the colon from migrating into the small intestine and causing problems.
2006-11-13 17:07:44 · answer #1 · answered by Spaghetti Cat 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hydrochloric Acid Digestive System
2016-10-31 01:06:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is really a biology question, but Il take a guess at it. Im assuming hydrochloric acid helps in digesting of most foods, as it will react with almost any food you eat. The other role is porbably to activate other enzymes in the stomach. I beleive that pepsin needs a pH below 3 to be activated and help digest food. Hydrochloic acid would lower the pH and activate pepsin. Failure to secret HCl would result in an inability to digest food im guessing.
2016-03-19 07:25:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't specificly digests anything in the term of metabolism. But it does help break peptide bonds in protein. Another thing it does is create an acidic environment in the stomach for the function of other enzymes. Namely, there is an enzyme called pepsin which is needed to digest a lot of proteins. It's present as pepsinogen, an inactive form. The pepsinogen will be activated and turned into pepsin if HCl is present as trigger. Its basically for creating environment for other enzymes.
2006-11-13 11:18:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is a highly corrosive acid. It does not specifically target anything.It denatures proteins and breaks ionic bonds.
2006-11-13 09:11:44 · answer #5 · answered by Shanna J 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
only to kill harmful germs .
2006-11-13 10:26:59 · answer #6 · answered by moosa 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋