Final answer:
Whales have large acidic stomachs to aid in the digestion of their prey, including bones. The highly acidic environment of the stomach is necessary for the chemical breakdown of food and extraction of nutrients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whales have large acidic stomachs because it allows them to digest their prey, which often includes bones, feathers, and horns. The stomach of a whale is the most acidic digestive system of any animal, with a pH between 1.5 and 2.5. This highly acidic environment is necessary for the chemical breakdown of the food and extraction of nutrients.
The acidity of the stomach is important for larger animals like whales because they consume many small organisms over time, leading to the accumulation of hydrogen in their bodies. Additionally, many acids and bases in living organisms are secreted to provide the proper pH for enzymes to work properly.
To summarize, whales have large acidic stomachs to aid in the digestion of their prey, which often includes hard-to-digest materials like bones. The acidity of the stomach is necessary for the chemical breakdown of food and extraction of nutrients.