Stomach Acid | Acids, Bases & Alkali's | Chemistry | FuseSchool

Summary

This video from FuseSchool explores the chemistry of stomach acid, scientifically known as hydrochloric acid, and its vital roles in digestion and potential health implications. With a pH level of 1 to 2, stomach acid is responsible for breaking down consumed proteins and activating digestive enzymes like proteases and lipases. However, the stomach protects itself from this corrosive acid using mucus secreted by its lining, though issues can arise, such as acid reflux, when the acid moves upwards toward the esophagus. The video concludes by explaining how substances like calcium carbonate can neutralize excess stomach acid, providing relief from acid reflux.

Highlights

• Hydrochloric acid in the stomach can denature proteins for digestion. 🍴
• Proteases and lipases, essential digestive enzymes, are activated by stomach acid. 🚀
• The stomach lining secretes mucus to protect against its own acid. 🛡️

Key Takeaways

• Stomach acid is actually hydrochloric acid, very corrosive but essential for digestion! 🧪
• It's responsible for denaturing proteins and activating digestive enzymes. 🍽️
• Mucus in the stomach lining protects the stomach from its own acid! 🤯

Overview

Stomach acid, primarily hydrochloric acid, plays a crucial role in our digestion process. It's highly potent, with a low pH, which allows it to break down proteins into amino acids, making them easier to digest and absorb. Enzymes such as proteases and lipases need this acidic environment to work efficiently, breaking down proteins and fats respectively.

Despite its corrosive nature, our stomach is equipped to handle this acid due to the mucus secreted by the stomach lining. This mucus forms a protective barrier that prevents the acid from damaging the lining. However, trouble arises when this acid escapes upward towards the esophagus, causing what is commonly known as acid reflux.

Interestingly, our body has ways to neutralize excessive stomach acid, often using over-the-counter antacids like calcium carbonate. These not only relieve discomfort but also showcase an everyday example of an acid-alkali neutralization reaction. Next time you pop an antacid, marvel at the chemistry happening within!

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Stomach Acid This chapter discusses hydrochloric acid, which is a highly corrosive substance that requires careful handling with protective equipment like gloves and goggles. Interestingly, despite its corrosive nature, hydrochloric acid is also naturally found in the human body as stomach acid.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Role of Stomach Acid In this chapter, the role of stomach acid is explored, emphasizing its importance in the digestive system. Stomach acid, with a pH level of 1 to 2, serves two main purposes. Firstly, due to its high acidity, it denatures consumed proteins, breaking down their complex globular structures into simpler amino acid chains, facilitating easier digestion and absorption. The chapter also suggests further learning about protein structures through available lessons.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Activation of Digestive Enzymes The chapter discusses the role of stomach acid in activating key digestive enzymes like proteases and lipases. It explains that these enzymes require a low pH to function effectively. Proteases are responsible for breaking down long amino acid chains into smaller chains or individual amino acids. The chapter also prompts the reader to think about the function of lipases.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Protection Against Stomach Acid The chapter 'Protection Against Stomach Acid' discusses the body's mechanism to protect the stomach lining from its own acidic environment. It explains that despite the presence of strong acid, the stomach walls don't corrode because of the specific cells lining the stomach. These cells secrete mucus, which acts as a protective barrier. However, problems can arise if there is an excess of stomach acid.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Acid Reflux and its Causes Acid Reflux is a medical condition where stomach contents are pushed upwards towards the esophagus past the cardiac sphincter. This can happen due to overeating in a short amount of time or consuming certain types of food like acidic, spicy, or high-fat content foods. It is characterized by an excess of stomach acid. The chapter suggests exploring ways to neutralize this excess acid.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Neutralizing Stomach Acid The chapter 'Neutralizing Stomach Acid' discusses the relief of the burning sensation caused by stomach acid through the consumption of alkaline substances. It introduces antacids as a form of treatment, which can be easily purchased at pharmacies or supermarkets. The chapter further describes that antacids may contain substances such as calcium carbonate or magnesium, depending on the brand.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Antacids and Their Components The chapter discusses antacids and their components, focusing on substances like sodium carbonate and hydrogen carbonate. As an example, it explains the reaction involving calcium carbonate, which produces calcium chloride, water, and carbon dioxide gas. This chemical reaction is beneficial in relieving the burning sensation associated with acid reflux.

Stomach Acid | Acids, Bases & Alkali's | Chemistry | FuseSchool Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Music] hydrochloric acid a material that can be very corrosive and which we should only handle with protective gloves and safety goggles and yet you can find this substance right inside your body stomach acid is in fact Hydrochloric acid with a
• 00:30 - 01:00 pH of around 1 to2 so let's explore the role of stomach acid in our bodies stomach acid has two key roles since it is very acidic with a low PH it serves to denature any consumed protein by breaking down its globular structure into amino acid chains if you wish to learn more about proteins and their structures there is a lesson right here on our Channel
• 01:00 - 01:30 stomach acid also activates a few important digestive enzymes such as proteases and lipases these enzymes can only function at a low PH proteases break apart the long amino acid chains into smaller chains or even further into amino acids what do you think lipases do pause the lesson to think about this and resume once you are ready
• 01:30 - 02:00 lipases break apart lipids or fat molecules but how do our stomach walls contain this acid wouldn't a substance with such a low PH corrode through the Ralls the answer lies in the type of cell found on the internal stomach lining these cells secrete mucus which protect stomach acid from breaking down your stomach but when there is too much of a stomach acid or or when it is
• 02:00 - 02:30 pushed upwards towards the esophagus past the cardiac spincter this medical condition is known as acid reflux this can happen due to an excessive amount of food being consumed in a short period of time or due to certain types of food such as acidic or spicy food or food with a high fat content considering that this is caused from an excess of stomach acid how do you think it can be neutralized PA the
• 02:30 - 03:00 lesson think about it and resume when you are ready consuming something alkaline can help relieve the burning sensation this is an example of a re life acid-based neutralization reaction ant acids are a possible treatment and can be purchased at almost any pharmacy or Supermarket all depending on the brand of the ant acid it could contain the following substances calcium carbonate magnesium
• 03:00 - 03:30 carbonate sodium hydrogen carbonate let's use calcium carbonate as an example this reaction yields a salt calcium chloride water and carbon dioxide gas this can help relieve the burning sensation caused by acid reflux