Emulsification of Fats & Oils (Cambridge O Level Biology)

• Cells in the liver produce bile which is then stored in the gall bladder

Bile Production Diagram

Bile production and secretion

Bile has two main roles:

• It is alkaline to neutralise the hydrochloric acid which comes from the stomach
• The enzymes in the small intestine have a higher (more alkaline) optimum pH than those in the stomach
• It breaks down large drops of fat into smaller ones
  • This is known as emulsification
  • The larger surface area allows lipase to chemically break down the lipid into glycerol and fatty acids faster

Emulsification of Fat Diagram

Emulsification of a large droplet of fat