Question

What is the role of hydrochloric acid in our stomach?

Answer 1

Hint: Hydrochloric acid is found in the stomach. Parietal cells of the stomach are responsible for the production of hydrochloric acid. The molecular formula of hydrochloric acid is 'HCl' which consists of one hydrogen and one chlorine molecule.

Complete Step-by-Step Answer:
-Hydrochloric acid has a major role in the stomach.
-It has many advantages as well as disadvantages for us. Some of them are:
-Hydrochloric acid is useful in killing the germs which enter in our stomach through the mouth via food by acting as the first line of defence.
-It is responsible for the digestion of a protein by converting the inactive form of protein that is pepsinogen into the active form of protein that is pepsin.
-Pepsin can break down protein present in the food and can be digested easily.
-Hydrochloric acid is responsible for creating the acidic environment which is for the action of pepsin on food for the protein digestion.

Additional Information:
-The concentration of hydrochloric acid in the human stomach is about 0.05%.
-The secretion of HCl is controlled by hormones as well as the nervous system.
-Sometimes stomach produces an excess concentration of HCl and the hormone responsible for it is 'Gastrin'.
-High production of HCl in the stomach can cause vomiting, nausea, heartburn, diarrhoea, decrease in appetite, etc.

Note: The pH of hydrochloric acid or gastric juice ranges from 1.5 to 3.5 i.e. acidic in nature. It can convert blue litmus paper red. In the stomach, a layer of mucus is present, which protects the lining stomach from destroying.