How Chlorophyll Absorbs Light Energy

The Electromagnetic Spectrum includes all radiation found in space. Plants utilize Visible Light.

Our eyes are able to detect energy of visible light.

We can also detect IR, but that’s not the point… IR= infrared

White light contains all the colors of the spectrum.

Pigments are chemicals that absorb and reflect light energy.

Black is the absence of light: it absorbs all wavelengths of color.

When all wavelengths of color are reflected, we detect that as white.

Chlorophyll is a pigment found in the Photosystems on thylakoid membranes. It is essential in absorbing light. Q: What color does chlorophyll appear? Q: Which color(s) do chlorophyll absorb? Q: Which color(s) do chlorophyll reflect?

The presence of other pigments allow a leaf to absorb more wavelengths of energy.

In the fall, as chlorophyll production decreases, those other pigments become visible!

These pigments can be separated from a leaf through a technique called paper chromatography.