🔹 Hydrochloric Acid (HCl)

Produced by: Parietal cells in the stomach lining

pH Level: 1.5 to 3.5 (very strong acid)

Functions:

Kills harmful microorganisms in food

Helps break down food particles

Activates pepsinogen into pepsin, an enzyme that digests proteins

Makes the stomach environment acidic for proper digestion

🔹 Gastric Juice

It is a mixture of HCl, enzymes (like pepsin), and mucus

Helps in chemical digestion of food in the stomach

🔹 Note on Bile:

Bile is not acidic; it is alkaline and made in the liver

It works in the small intestine to break down fats