What Is the Function of the Chlorophylls in Photosynthesis?

The green color of plants is due to the light-absorbing qualities of chlorohyll

Chlorophyll in plants comes in two different forms: A and B. They are essential to the process of photosynthesis, which is when sunlight is used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Pigments

Chlorophyll A and B are both pigments, which means they absorb light. Sunlight is a source of energy that plants have evolved to use to create a store of glucose for energy.

Wavelengths

Light comes in different wavelengths and chlorophyll A and B absorb different ranges of wavelengths to maximize the energy range utilized by the plant. The 500 to 600 nanometer wavelength range, which represents the color green, is not well absorbed, which is why plants reflect these colors back and are green in appearance.

Chloroplasts

Chlorophyll is located inside structures called chloroplasts. After the chlorophylls have been loaded with light energy, the energy is transferred from the chlorophyll along a biochemical pathway, using water, to form energy molecules called ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate). Oxygen is a byproduct of this reaction.

ATP and NADPH

ATP and NADPH are molecules used as energy carriers. They are used to bond carbon atoms to each other to form glucose in the final step of photosynthesis. Six carbon dioxide molecules are used as base material to change into the final product, one molecule of glucose.

References

• Estrella Mountain Community College: Photosynthesis
• University of Bristol: Chlorophyll