Digestion and enzymes
I can describe the processes of mechanical and chemical digestion that break down food to release nutrients, including the role of enzymes.
Digestion and enzymes
I can describe the processes of mechanical and chemical digestion that break down food to release nutrients, including the role of enzymes.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The differences between mechanical and chemical digestion and where they take place.
- Food is made up of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
- Carbohydrates, proteins and fats in food are broken down by digestion into smaller molecules that can be absorbed.
- Enzymes are biological molecules that act as catalysts to speed up chemical digestion of carbohydrate, protein and fat.
- Enzymes digest carbohydrates into starch and sugars, proteins into amino acids, and fats into fatty acids and glycerol.
Keywords
Digestion - Digestion is the process of breaking down large food molecules into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the blood.
Enzyme - An enzyme is a biological molecule that is a catalyst that speeds up the rate of a reaction.
Carbohydrate - A carbohydrate is a molecule made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, and provides energy.
Protein - A protein is a molecule made of amino acids, and is used for growth and repair.
Fat - A fat is a molecule that is stored and used for energy.
Common misconception
Food is absorbed without being digested; or "goodness" from food is what is absorbed.
The lesson explores the roles of mechanical and chemical digestion (by enzymes) of different food types into small molecules to be absorbed.
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
potatoes
meat
butter
Secrete digestive chemicals and add water
Secretes digestive chemicals
Secretes bile
Exit quiz
6 Questions
