Question

What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach? Which is major nutrient digested in stomach? [3 MARKS]

Answer 1

Each point: 1 Mark

1. Hydrochloric acid provides an acidic medium for the action of protein-digesting enzymes and activates the inactive form (pepsinogen) to active form (pepsin) in gastric juice.
2. High acidity due to HCL also helps to kill microbes entering the stomach along with food.
3. Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks the major nutrient protein into peptides.