How is digestion a series of chemical reactions?

Question

Aaron Allen · Accepted Answer

Foods are complex materials. Reducing them to useful nutrients requires several stages of chemical processing, called digestion.

Digestion is a continuous process of chemical reactions and processes up to the final water reclamation and waste disposal, starting with the mechanical breakdown of food by chewing and the introduction of salivary enzymes to start the chemical transformation of foods. The food's structural membranes are broken down by the stomach's use of hydrochloric acid, and the resulting materials—proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins—are subsequently taken up by the small intestine for additional enzymatic breakdown. Meanwhile, the large intestine absorbs more moisture from the food and its accompanying liquids and extracts additional nutrients.

Eva Anselmo · Answer

undefined Digestion is a series of chemical reactions because it involves the breakdown of complex food molecules into simpler forms through enzymatic reactions. These reactions occur in the mouth, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, where various enzymes and acids break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body.