Lesson 6 - Enzymes and digestion

Question 1

What are enzymes, and what role do they play in digestion?

Answer 1

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up the breakdown of large food molecules into smaller, soluble molecules during digestion.

Question 2

What enzyme breaks down starch, and what are the products?

Answer 2

The enzyme amylase breaks down starch into sugars, specifically glucose.

Question 3

Which enzyme breaks down proteins, and what are the products?

Answer 3

The enzyme protease breaks down proteins into amino acids.

Question 4

What enzyme is responsible for breaking down fats, and what are the products?

Answer 4

The enzyme lipase breaks down fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol.

Question 5

Where is amylase produced in the digestive system?

Answer 5

Amylase is produced in the salivary glands, the pancreas, and the small intestine.

Question 6

What is the function of bile in digestion?

Answer 6

Bile, produced by the liver, helps to emulsify fats (break them into smaller droplets) and neutralises stomach acid in the small intestine, providing the ideal pH for enzymes like lipase.

Question 7

What is the optimum pH for enzymes in the stomach?

Answer 7

The optimum pH for stomach enzymes, like protease, is acidic, around pH 2, because of the presence of stomach acid.

Question 8

Why do different parts of the digestive system have different pH levels?

Answer 8

Different enzymes work best at specific pH levels:

Stomach: Acidic pH for protease.
Small intestine: Slightly alkaline pH for amylase, protease, and lipase.
This ensures enzymes function effectively in their respective locations.