Question

Explain the role of pigments and light absorption in providing energy for photosynthesis

Answer 1

In photosynthesis, the sun’s energy is converted to chemical energy by photosynthetic organisms, and this energy is used in the photosynthesis process. The light-absorbing molecules are called as pigments that absorb only specific wavelengths of visible light. The key pigments in photosynthesis are chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and β-carotene. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are the main photosynthetic pigments in plants. Chlorophyll molecules absorb mainly blue and red wavelengths. They convert light energy to chemical energy, and it is used in light-dependent reactions. Carotenoids absorb violet and blue-green light that can help in photosynthesis process. In addition, carotenoids have an important role in getting rid of excess light energy in photosynthesis process. When a huge amount of energy is gained by a leaf, carotenoids in chloroplasts absorb the excess energy and dissipate it as heat. By this way, it can prevent the damage of photosynthetic machinery.