AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
The acid produced in the human stomach that helps in digestion is hydrochloric acid (HCl). It creates an acidic medium that facilitates the action of the enzyme pepsin.
Source: Chapter 5, Section 5.2.4 – Nutrition in Human Beings
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The textbook explicitly states that gastric glands in the stomach wall release hydrochloric acid (HCl). Examiners expect the full name and the chemical formula for full marks. Mentioning its role (activating pepsin) strengthens the answer but is not strictly required for 1 mark. Avoid writing "stomach acid" alone — always name it as HCl.