Science (086) — AI-generated practice question

Bile juice is secreted by the liver and released into the small intestine. It performs two important roles in fat digestion:

1. Neutralisation: The food arriving from the stomach is acidic. Bile makes it alkaline so that pancreatic enzymes can function properly.

1. Emulsification: Fats exist in the intestine as large globules, making enzyme action difficult. Bile salts break these large globules into smaller ones (emulsification), increasing the surface area and improving the efficiency of the enzyme lipase (from pancreatic juice), which then digests the emulsified fats into fatty acids and glycerol.

Source: Life Processes, Section 5.2.4 – Nutrition in Human Beings

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Examiners look for two distinct functions of bile: neutralisation of acidic chyme AND emulsification of fats. Many students mention only emulsification and lose a mark. Use the word "emulsification" and compare it to the action of soap on dirt (as the textbook does) if you want to impress, but it is not compulsory. Always name lipase as the enzyme that acts after bile prepares the fats.