Digesting food is primarily a chemical change.
Here's why:
- Breaking Down Molecules: Digestion involves breaking down large food molecules (like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) into smaller molecules that our bodies can absorb and use. This process is facilitated by enzymes, which are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions.
- Chemical Reactions: Enzymes catalyze specific chemical reactions, altering the composition and structure of food molecules. For instance, amylase in saliva breaks down starch into simpler sugars.
- New Substances: Digestion results in the formation of new substances. For example, the breakdown of proteins into amino acids is a chemical change.
While physical changes like chewing and churning in the stomach also occur during digestion, the core process of breaking down food into usable nutrients is driven by chemical reactions.
