What is amylase?

• A. A carbohydrate
• B. A lipid
• C. An enzyme that breaks down starch
• D. A hormone

Answer: (C)

Amylase is an enzyme, a biological catalyst that speeds up the chemical reaction of digesting starch. It acts on starch to break it down into smaller sugar molecules like maltose and glucose, helping the body digest carbohydrates more efficiently. Amylase is produced in the salivary glands and the pancreas, so it starts working in the mouth and continues in the small intestine. The other terms describe different kinds of molecules or roles—carbohydrates are sugars, lipids are fats, and hormones are chemical messengers—whereas amylase’s key function is to catalyze the breakdown of starch.