A function of the human stomach is

A) to produce highly basic fluids to kill most bacteria.
B) to begin the absorption of most small food molecules, especially sugars.
C) storing food and mixing food with enzymes to begin the chemical digestion of proteins.
D) to pass food from the esophagus to the large intestine.
E) absorption of iron to build hemoglobin for red blood cells.

The stomach has several functions, but one of the primary functions is to mix food with enzymes such as pepsin to begin the chemical digestion of proteins. The stomach also stores food and slowly releases it to the small intestine for further digestion and absorption. It does not produce highly basic fluids to kill bacteria, nor does it absorb iron for the production of hemoglobin. It does not pass food from the esophagus to the large intestine, as that is the role of the entire digestive system. While the small intestine is involved in absorption of small molecules such as sugars, this is not a primary function of the stomach.