The Chemistry of Digestion

The Chemistry of Digestion

What is important to understand about the chemistry of digestion is that we consume macromolecules in our diet: proteins, carbohydrates, and fats or lipids; and through chemical digestion the substances are broken down into their simplest parts: amino acids, monosaccharides or simple sugars, and fatty acids. Enzymes, proteins that are used to catalyze these reactions are made by our bodies. It is amazing to witness, and in the test tube we can see the results of enzymes and their role in digestion.

A lactose intolerant person, for example, simply fails to produce lactase. Lactase is the enzyme necessary to breakdown lactose.  Maltase breaks down maltose, and sucrase breaks down sucrose.

Click on and watch the two Digestive Experimental videos and answer the following questions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvAIZ-WIUps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEf-Vch6J-g

1. Name the test solution or the reagent use to test for the presence of the following, name the initial color, and the positive result indicator. You may list the information in a table form if you choose. 

Starch

Glucose

Protein

Lipid

2. What do you do if you get unexpected results, when doing this type of experimentation?