what is chemical digestion

Chemical digestion is a process that involves the use of enzymes to break down nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the body. This process occurs throughout the digestive tract, starting in the mouth with saliva, continuing in the stomach, and being completed in the small intestine, where the majority of chemical digestion takes place. Enzymes secreted throughout the digestive tract break the chemical bonds that hold food particles together, allowing food to be broken down into small, digestible parts. The role of chemical digestion is to further degrade the molecular structure of ingested compounds by digestive enzymes into a form that is absorbable into the bloodstream. Without chemical digestion, the body wouldnt be able to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat. This process is essential for the body to absorb smaller molecules and use them in metabolism, such as converting them into energy. Chemical digestion is a vital part of the digestive process, working in conjunction with mechanical digestion to ensure that the body can absorb nutrients from ingested food. The small intestine is the primary site of most chemical digestion and almost all absorption.