Question

: Write two functions of HCI.

Answer 1

Hint: Digestive system of humans secretes the digestive juices which are also called digestive acids or stomach acids in the stomach, and the secretions contain many substances which include hydrochloric acid, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and some other proteins as enzymes.

Complete answer:
In the stomach, gastric juice is made up of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and some other substances.
Hydrochloric acid plays an important role in absorbing nutrients.
Hcl is also helpful to break up the complex food structures in the stomach and helps in the process of digestion.
And at the same time, they also split up the proteins of the enzymes of gastric juice in order to activate them.
Along with the function of digestion of food in the stomach, it also helps to kill the bacteria and other harmful foreign particles in the food.
In gastric juice, it especially activates the Pepsin and is also helpful for the absorption of some minerals in the food from the stomach.
In the case of any complex food like meat, it breaks down the connective tissue of the meat and helps in digestion and at the same time, any undigested bacteria are also killed.
The concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach is 0.5% or 5000 parts per million.
Hydrochloric acid provides the flow of bile and pancreatic enzymes.
And this acid is secreted by the parietal cells of one-third of the stomach.

Note: Hydrochloric acid decrease the PH of the stomach, and in order to prevent the damage of the stomach by this acid, the stomach layers secrete thick sticky mucus which clings to the stomach walls, and damage to this layer may cause the stomach ulcers.