Fill in the blanks : (1) ………. `overset"HCl"to` (2) ……..

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Text Solution:**

1. **Identify the Role of HCl**: Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is secreted in the stomach and plays a crucial role in digestion. It is part of the gastric juice and helps maintain an acidic environment in the stomach.

2. **Understand the Function of HCl**: One of the primary functions of HCl is to kill harmful microbes that may enter the stomach with food due to its low pH (around 2). This acidic environment is hostile to many bacteria and microbes.

3. **Activation of Pepsinogen**: HCl also plays an important role in the activation of digestive enzymes. Specifically, it converts pepsinogen, which is an inactive enzyme (zymogen), into pepsin, the active form of the enzyme.

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