HOW DO PIGMENTS WORK?
What is a pigment?
A pigment is a visible light absorbing substances. Different variety of pigments absorb different wavelengths. The wavelength that is not absorbed is reflected or transmitted.
How do pigments work?
They absorb the color that an object may appear. For example, a leaf looks green because the chlorophyll reflects green light.
Pigments, chlorophyll and photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll a is the main photosynthetic pigment
Chlorophyll b is an accesory pigment that broadens the spectrum used for photosynthesis,
Accesory pigments, carotenoids, absorb excessive light that would damage chlorophyll
Chlorophyll a is the most effective pigment for photosynthesis, and the accesory pigments are not as effective, but they are important to the process
A pigment is a visible light absorbing substances. Different variety of pigments absorb different wavelengths. The wavelength that is not absorbed is reflected or transmitted.
How do pigments work?
They absorb the color that an object may appear. For example, a leaf looks green because the chlorophyll reflects green light.
Pigments, chlorophyll and photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll a is the main photosynthetic pigment
Chlorophyll b is an accesory pigment that broadens the spectrum used for photosynthesis,
Accesory pigments, carotenoids, absorb excessive light that would damage chlorophyll
Chlorophyll a is the most effective pigment for photosynthesis, and the accesory pigments are not as effective, but they are important to the process
The photo above on the left shows the wavelengths absorbed in plants which make them green.