Final answer:
Chlorophyll is the pigment essential for photosynthesis, primarily types a and b in higher plant chloroplasts. Chlorophyll absorbs blue and red light and reflects green, which is why plants are green. Carotenoids are accessory pigments that absorb blue and green light and reflect red, yellow, and orange. The correct option is 1) Chlorophyll
Step-by-step explanation:
The special substance called a pigment that is needed for photosynthesis to occur is chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is involved in the process of converting light energy into chemical energy during photosynthesis.
It is primarily chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b that are found in higher plant chloroplasts, although there are five major types of chlorophylls identified as a, b, c, d, and bacteriochlorophyll.
Chlorophyll absorbs wavelengths from either end of the visible spectrum (blue and red), but not green, which is why plants appear green as they reflect this color. Carotenoids also play a role as accessory pigments, absorbing blue and green light, and reflecting yellow, red, and orange wavelengths. The correct option is 1) Chlorophyll