Which action is a typical example of chemical digestion?

• A. Action of enzymes
• B. Chewing
• C. Swallowing
• D. Absorption

Answer: (A)

Chemical digestion relies on enzymes to break chemical bonds in large food molecules, turning them into smaller, absorbable units. The action of enzymes is the best example because they catalyze reactions that split carbohydrates, proteins, and fats—think of amylase starting starch breakdown in the mouth, and other digestive enzymes working in the stomach and small intestine. Mechanical processes like chewing only physically break food apart without changing its chemical structure, swallowing moves food along the digestive tract, and absorption is the uptake of nutrients after digestion.