Chlorophyll
Definition
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that absorbs light energy (specifically blue and red wavelengths) to carry out photosynthesis.
Analogy
Think of chlorophyll as solar panels on a house. Just like solar panels absorb sunlight to convert it into electricity for the house, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight to convert it into chemical energy for the plant.
Related terms
Pigment: A substance that gives color to plant tissues by absorbing certain wavelengths of light and reflecting others.
Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll pigments.
Photons: Particles representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation; absorbed by chlorophyll during photosynthesis.
"Chlorophyll" appears in:
Study guides (4)
Practice Questions (3)
- Chlorophyll is a pigment which __.
- What does chlorophyll do?
- The chloroplast contains chlorophyll to harvest light energy. Chlorophyll is embedded in the membranes of __, which are organized in stacks called __.
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.