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Questions and Answers
What is the primary reason most plants appear green?
What is the primary reason most plants appear green?
Which pigment is primarily responsible for photosynthesis in plants?
Which pigment is primarily responsible for photosynthesis in plants?
What percentage of light energy is typically used in photosynthesis?
What percentage of light energy is typically used in photosynthesis?
How does chlorophyll primarily transform light energy?
How does chlorophyll primarily transform light energy?
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Which other pigment is commonly found in plants alongside chlorophyll?
Which other pigment is commonly found in plants alongside chlorophyll?
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What role do pigments play in photosynthesis?
What role do pigments play in photosynthesis?
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What percentage of light energy is reflected by leaves during photosynthesis?
What percentage of light energy is reflected by leaves during photosynthesis?
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Which term describes the transformation of light energy by chlorophyll?
Which term describes the transformation of light energy by chlorophyll?
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Study Notes
Learning Competency
- Explain the importance of chlorophyll and other pigments in photosynthesis.
Specific Objectives
- Identify photosynthetic pigments and the colors of light they absorb or reflect.
- Explain the role of chlorophyll and other pigments in photosynthesis.
- Extract chlorophyll from plant leaves to make chlorophyll powder.
Key Concepts
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Why are most plants green? Plants appear green because they contain chlorophyll, a pigment that absorbs other colors of light but reflects green light.
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What is chlorophyll? Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plant cells, specifically in chloroplasts. Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis because it captures light energy.
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Other pigments: Plants also contain other pigments like carotenoids (red, orange, yellow) and xanthophylls (yellow). These are called accessory pigments as they assist chlorophyll in capturing light energy.
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Photosynthesis: Chlorophyll absorbs light energy and uses it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose (a sugar) and oxygen. This is the primary food-making process for plants.
Photosynthetic Pigments
- A table lists photosynthetic pigments: their function, color, absorbed light, and the organisms they are found in.
Role of Pigments in Photosynthesis
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Pigments are essential for photosynthesis as they trap light energy for the process.
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Chlorophyll, as the primary pigment, absorbs light energy in red and blue portions of the spectrum while reflecting green light, giving plants their green color. Other pigments (accessory pigments) absorb light in other parts of the visible spectrum, extending the range of light plants can capture for energy.
Chlorophyll Absorbing Light
- A visual illustration shows how chlorophyll absorbs certain wavelengths (colors) of light and reflects others, mainly green light.
Energy Harvesting Reaction
- The energy-harvesting reaction occurs when light energy is absorbed, and electrons become excited within chlorophyll. These excited electrons travel through an electron transport chain (ETC), generating energy-carrying molecules crucial for the subsequent Calvin Cycle (dark) reactions.
Calvin Cycle
- The Calvin cycle, sometimes called the dark reaction, does not require direct sunlight. The cycle uses the energy from the light reactions to convert carbon dioxide into glucose, or sugar, giving plants their food.
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Description
Test your understanding of chlorophyll and other pigments' roles in photosynthesis. Identify different photosynthetic pigments and their light absorption characteristics. Explore how chlorophyll extraction is conducted from plant leaves.
