Question

Explain what determines the rate of digestion of the energy nutrients.

Answer 1

The process of digestion is the breaking down of the large foods.This process starts with mouth and ends in anus.

In this insoluble foods containing large molecules are broken down into the soluble compounds which are absorbed and used by body cells.

Factors that determines the rate of digestion of the energy nutrients are as follows:

1) Temperature: Increase in the temperature increase the rate of digestive chemical reaction.As temperature increases the molecules have more energy and they move faster.

2) PH : As increase in PH increases digestion process.Different enzymes are more effective at different PH levels.For example amylase in mouth causes hydrolysis of starch into sugars by breaking bond in molecule.

3) Size of molecule: As the size particle is small there will be more surface area available for digestion. The greater the surface area the higher the chance of collision and thus faster the rate of reaction.

4) Use of catalyst: These are the chemical enzymes that speeds up the chemical reaction.If a catalyst is present the reacting particles can collide more successfully with less energy and so the reaction can take place at a lower temperature.

5) Concentraation : Higher the concentration of reactant , the faster the rate of rection will be.