The enzyme pepsin works best in an acidic environment to begin the digestion of protein. The acid also helps to kill some of the bacteria in food.
2007-05-01 08:25:58
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answer #1
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answered by chuck 1
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Did you know that cells have something not unlike a stomach? They're called "digestive vacuoles". What these buggers do it collect all the used protein in the cell and recycles them. They also "eat" proteins from outside the cell. They can eat other proteins because the cells that made them use the same "digestive vacuole" to recycle their proteins. It works for every cell because it is the process that every cell uses. There are two main things that get involved in this recycling process. One of them is acid. The other is enzymes, which help make sure everything is recycled. Sugar is also processed this way, but isn't destroyed by the acid. Although people are bigger than cells, we need to recycle the same things as cells. Since cells use acid and enzymes to break things down, so do we. If we didn't, the things we ate would stay pretty similar to how they were when we swallowed them. More technical info below: The reason acidity is so important is that it denatures proteins. This is like untying a shoelace: the lace is still there, but it isn't able to do it's job and the lace that was in the knot is exposed. These newly exposed parts include peptide bonds, or the bonds between amino acids. The stomach acid then helps break the bonds between amino acids. Other things known to denature proteins are alkalis (bases) and heat. That's why your body makes you hot when you are sick - it is trying to denature the proteins that make of the infection. This is the same thing that happens during cooking, too!
2016-04-11 01:09:23
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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Why Is The Stomach Acidic
2016-10-05 07:42:26
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answer #3
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answered by rozalin 3
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The acid in the stomach has a number of purposes. First of all, it starts to break down some of the food into basic components. Secondly, there is an enzyme, pepsin, that is released into the stomach in an inactive form called pepsinogen. In order to make the enzyme active, pepsin has to break a bond that converts it to pepsin. Thirdly, the pepsin works best in an acidic environment (it would not work well in the rest of the body, which has a more basic environment, of approximately pH 7.4). And last but not least, the acid environment tends to kill some bacteria and other potential pathogens.
2007-05-01 08:27:45
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answer #4
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answered by kt 7
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Pathology consideration - the acid is a form of defense against pathogens such as bacteria, it provides an unsavory environment for the bacteria to survive Physiology consideration - acid aids the activation of enzymes which break down food inside the stomach, for better absorption in the small intestine Pharmacology consideration - acidic drugs exist in acidic environment as hydrophobic lipid soluble substance, hence can be absorbed through the walls of the stomach into the circulation
2016-03-19 01:44:19
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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RE:
Why is it necessary for the stomach contents to be so acidic?
2015-08-16 14:04:14
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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1
2017-01-26 22:16:04
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answer #7
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answered by ? 3
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