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Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids. Why is this important in the process of photosynthesis? Support your answer with facts.

User RCrowt
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Answer:

The presence of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids in chloroplasts allow plants to absorb more energy from sunlight by absorbing multiple wavelengths. Chlorophyll a absorbs blue-violet light and red light. Chlorophyll b absorbs mostly blue light. Carotenoids absorb violet, blue, and blue-green light. The pigments together, therefore, are able to absorb a wider range of wavelengths.

Step-by-step explanation:

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User Wuzseen
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Step-by-step explanation:

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants synthesize their food from carbon dioxide and water by using the green pigment chlorophyll generating oxygen as product.

Chlorophyll "a " absorbs light from the orange-red and violet-blue areas of the Electromagnetic spectrum. Also Chlorophyll a transfers energy to the reaction center and donates two excited electrons to the electron transport chain

Its main role is as a primary electron donor in the electron transport chain. So the energy from the sun will ultimately become chemical energy that can be used by the plant for cellular processes.

Chlorophyll "b" absorbs blue light. The main role is to expand the absorption spectrum of organisms.

Plant can absorb more energy from the high frequency blue light part of the spectrum. Its presence in cells helps plant convert a wider range of the energy from the sun into chemical energy.

Carotenoids are usually red, orange, or yellow pigments, and include the compound carotene. These compounds are composed of two small six-carbon rings that are connected by a "chain" of carbon atoms. As a result, they do not dissolve in water, and must be attached to membranes within the cell. Carotenoids cannot transfer sunlight energy directly to the photosynthetic pathway, but must pass their absorbed energy to chlorophyll. For this reason, they are called accessory pigments.

User Beu
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