Question

as food travels through the digestive system, it is exposed to a variety of ph levels. the stomach as a ph of 2 due to the presence of hydrochloric acid (hcl), and the small intestine has a ph ranging from 7 to 9. hcl converts pepsinogen into pepsin, an enzyme that helps digests proteins in the stomach. select the statement that describes what most likely happens to pepsin as it enters the small intestine. it begins to replicate. its shape changes to engulf large proteins. its activity increases to digest more proteins. it becomes inactive.

Explanation:

Enzymes like pepsin have an optimal pH for activity. Pepsin is active in the acidic environment of the stomach (pH 2). The small - intestine has a much more alkaline pH (7 - 9). This change in pH disrupts the enzyme's structure and function, making it inactive.

Answer:

It becomes inactive.