Question

Chief function of HCI is

• A. To maintain a low pH to prevent growth of micro-organisms
• B. To facilitate absorption
• C. To maintain low pH to activate pepsinogen to form pepsin
• D. To dissolve enzyme secreted in stomach

Answer 1

The correct option is C To maintain low pH to activate pepsinogen to form pepsin

Hydrochloric acid, also called as HCl, is a clear, highly corrosive liquid. HCl is one of the many chemicals released in our stomach when we eat a meal. The role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, along with the other gastric juices, is to break down foods and cause the release of enzymes that further aid digestion. HCl also has another important role to play in the stomach during the digestion process. The presence of HCl in the body of the stomach causes the activation of enzymes. One of the proteins in HCl is used to convert the enzyme pepsinogen into pepsin. Pepsin breaks up the peptides from the protein.