Digestion chemistry – question bank

An inquiry approach is a method often used in science education. The question bank provides an initial list of questions about our digestion process and its hormonal control and places where their answers can be found.

The article Digestion chemistry – introduction has links to further resources and student activities.

Q. What are the functions of the human digestive system?

• Rate of digestion

• Digestion of food

• The human digestive system

• Digestion – breaking the large into the small

• Large intestine function

• Foods journey through the digestive system

Q. Chemical digestion of food involves the action of enzymes in a process known as enzymatic hydrolysis. What is enzymatic hydrolysis?

• Digestive enzymes

• Salivary amylase and starch

• Digestion of food

• Digestion – breaking the large into the small

Q. What are the factors that can influence the rate of chemical digestion of food?

• Rate of digestion

• Digestive enzymes

Q. What are the main functions of the large intestine?

• Healthy gut bacteria

• Gut bacteria and health

• Digestion of food

• Large intestine function

Q. What do ATP and mitochondria have in common?

• Mitochondria – cell powerhouses

• Unlocking the energy in foods

Q. What are the factors that influence a person’s resting metabolic rate (RMR)?

• Calculating RMR and daily energy output

• Energy requirements of the body

Q. What role do GI tract hormones play in digestion?

• Hormonal control of digestion

• Satiety research

• Digestion of food

Q. How many bacteria and bacterial species are present in the large intestine?

• Healthy gut bacteria

• Gut bacteria and health

• Digestion of food

Q. What is obesity?

• Futures thinking about obesity

• Satiety research

• Hormonal control of digestion

Q. What are the products of the bacterial fermentation of carbohydrate?

• Healthy gut bacteria

• Gut bacteria and health

• Large intestine function