Final answer:
Polarized light can be used to identify the pigment d. melanin due to its specific absorption spectrum. Spectrophotometry and chromatography are common methods for determining the absorption spectra of pigments to identify them.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polarized light can indeed be used to assist in the identification of certain pigments.
Of the options provided (anthracotic, hemosiderin, formalin, melanin), the pigment that would likely be identified using polarized light is d. melanin.
This is because melanin has a characteristic absorption spectrum, and polarized light can help in differentiating melanin from other substances what it is mixed with or where it occurs in different layers of tissue.
Scientific methods such as spectrophotometry and chromatography are commonly used to determine the types of pigments present in organisms by generating absorption spectra.
These techniques help scientists identify which wavelengths of light a pigment absorbs or transmits, thus revealing the pigment's unique absorption pattern.
While polarization is not commonly used for identifying plant pigments like chlorophyll or carotenoids, it can be helpful in biological and medical contexts where identifying the distribution and concentration of pigments like melanin is important.