Question

What would happen if $HCl$ were not secreted in the stomach?

Answer 1

Stomach acid:

Hydrochloric acid is secreted from the parietal cells of the gastric glands present on the walls of the stomach. Hydrochloric acid is responsible for creating an acidic environment inside the stomach. The pH of the stomach is between 1 and 2.

The protein digesting proenzyme pepsinogen is secreted in the stomach. Proenzyme pepsinogen can be converted to active pepsin in the presence of an acidic medium. In the absence of hydrochloric acid, the active pepsin will not be formed. Therefore, the protein digestion in the stomach will be affected as a result of it.