Subject:

Chemistry

Type of Lesson:

Lecture

Grade:

11

CSEC OBJ:

Students should recognize patterns of

reactions of the various homologous
series of carbon compounds.

Term:

UNIT:

Organic Chemistry

Duration:

40 minutes

Lesson: 13

Hydrolysis in the digestion process

Week: 5

Objectives
As a result of this lesson, you will be able to:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

compare acid hydrolysis of a polysaccharide with carbohydrate digestion in the body

describe the hydrolysis of proteins
define the term protein
define the term polysaccharide
explain carbohydrate digestion

Prerequisite Student Knowledge

You should be familiar with:
1) Hydrolysis as the breaking down of a substance by reacting it with water.
2) Acid hydrolysis as the breaking down of a substance in the presence of water and an acid
environment.
Important Points
Important points in this lesson:
1) Proteins and carbohydrates occur naturally in the foods we eat.
2) For the body to absorb proteins and carbohydrates, they must be broken down into simpler
substances.
Key Terms
Polysaccharide

Protein

Carbohydrate

Carbohydrate

Digestion

Hydrolysis

Challenge Areas
Try drawing the structure of a molecule of protein and a molecule of carbohydrate( starch or
cellulose).

Equipment/Material Needed
Chart showing the hydrolysis of proteins and carbohydrates.

Note to Student
Hydrolysis is a process that breaks complex substances down into simpler ones by means of
water.

Introduction
1) Introductory Activity
Note the following points:
a. Macromolecules are large molecules built from smaller units. Many natural
macromolecules such as the large molecules of proteins, carbohydrates and fats are
found in your foods.
b. Carbohydrates are made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The building block of
carbohydrates is glucose which plants make in their leaves. Glucose is therefore a
simple carbohydrate. Starch is considered a complex carbohydrate as it is made from
several glucose molecules. It is found in foods such as potatoes, cereals, pasta, rice
and bread.
c. Proteins are found in foods like meat, eggs and cheese. The building blocks are
amino acids which are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. They are also
called macromolecules as they contain several amino acids linked in a variety of
ways. This explains why there are so many different proteins.
d. Polysaccharides are carbohydrates that can be broken down into two or more
simple sugars.

Body of Lesson
1) Digestion
In the process of digestion, the macromolecules get broken down again in their building
blocks by reacting them with water, through the process of hydrolysis.
i. Polysaccharides can be hydrolysed to monosaccharides (simple sugars) by
boiling with dilute acid. This is called acid hydrolysis.
ii. In biological systems, the hydrolysis of carbohydrates during digestion is
facilitated by the presence of enzymes. This process occurs in the presence of
dilute hydrochloric acid found in the stomach.
iii. Carbohydrates break down to glucose which is used for energy.
iv. Proteins get broken down to amino acids which you use to build up your
body tissues and hair.
v. Fats get broken down into glycerol and fatty acids. These become
converted into new fats which are stored until needed.
vi. All these reactions are facilitated by the enzymes in your digestive system,
in the presence of acid.
2) Hydrolysis of proteins

a. Proteins are macromolecules made up of amino acids which will also undergo
hydrolysis in the presence of enzymes and dilute hydrochloric acid.
i. Proteins become hydrolysed in the presence of the enzymes proteases
found in the gastric juices of the stomach.
Closure
In-Class Assignments
In your notebook, answer the following questions:
1) During digestion, a hydrolysis reaction takes place.
a) Why is it called hydrolysis?
b) What happens in this reaction?
2) Compare acid hydrolysis of a polysaccharide with carbohydrate digestion in the body.
Out-of-Class Assignment
1) What two conditions are needed to break down proteins into amino acids?
2) What is the name of this breakdown process?
3) Draw the structure of one of the amino acids formed when the protein shown breaks down.
Supplemental
Glossary of Terms
Carbohydrate

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen,

oxygen

Protein

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen,

oxygen and nitrogen

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate that can be broken down onto

two or more simple sugars

Hydrolysis

The breaking down of a substance by reacting it

with water.

Digestion

The breaking down of food into simpler

substances so that the body can absorb it.

Carbohydrate
digestion

The breaking down of carbohydrates into

glucose

CSEC Questions
1) The chart below summarizes the chemical reactions by which the substance named in EACH
box may be produced from carbohydrates and plant material.
Digestion
Glucose

a)
i.
ii.

Carbohydrates
and
Plant material

Ethanol

Ethene

Manure
Biogas
Bacterial action

State the type of reaction and the substance required for the production of
Glucose by digestion of carbohydrates and plant material and
Ethane from ethanol.

State TWO ways in which the production of glucose in the laboratory differs from its
production by digestion. (1991)
Recommended Materials
http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=AP15806
http://www.chemguide.co.uk/organicprops/aminoacids/proteinhydrolysis.html
Bibliography
1. Bisnott, Karlene, CXC Lecture Series Chemistry, 2nd Edition,Jamaica Observer
Limited, (2002).
2. Ferguson & Hart, (1994).CXC Chemistry, Oxford University Press
3. Gallagher & Ingram, (1997). Complete Chemistry, Oxford University Press
4. Holderness & Lambert, (1998). A New Certificate Chemistry, Sixth Edition, Heinemann
Educational Books.
5. Tindale Anne, (1998). Chemistry A concise Revision Course for CXC, Stanley Thornes
Publishers Ltd.