Question

The _______ acid in gastric juice is lethal to many pathogens. hydrochloric protease carbolic formic sulfuric

Answer 1

Answer: option C) hydrochloric acid.


Justification:


The only acid produced in the stomach, and main constituent of the gastric juice, is the hydrochloric acid (HCl).


This acid is respondible for thte low pH in the gastric juice, in a range of 1.5 to 3.5 according to the literature.


That acidity is not resisted by many pathogens which, therfore, will be killed.

Answer 2

Hydrochloric acid is the acid in gastric juice that is lethal to many pathogens.

This hydrochloric acid activates pepsinogen into the pepsin enzyme which then aids in the digestion by breaking down the bonds linking amino acids. This process is known as proteolysis. In immunology, it has been postulated that one main function of the inherent hydrochloric acid in gastric juices is to prevent microorganisms from reaching the small intestine where it can potentially cause diseases or worse, get access to other parts of the human body.