Question

How do different pigments affect Photosynthesis?

Answer 1

Biological pigments, also known as pigments or biochromes, are coloured substances produced by living organisms as a result of selective colour absorption. Plant pigments and flower pigments are examples of biological pigments.

Complete answer:
Photosynthesis is made up of both light-dependent and light-independent reactions. The so-called "light" reactions in plants take place within the chloroplast thylakoids, which contain the aforementioned chlorophyll pigments. When light energy reaches the pigment molecules, it energizes the electrons within them, and these electrons are shunted to an electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane. Every step in the electron transport chain then brings each electron to a lower energy state and harnesses its energy by producing ATP and NADPH. Meanwhile, each chlorophyll molecule replaces its lost electron with an electron from water; this process essentially splits water molecules to produce oxygen.

The major pigment used in photosynthesis is chlorophyll A, but there are several types of chlorophyll and numerous other pigments that respond to light, including red, brown, and blue pigments. These additional pigments may aid in the transmission of light energy to chlorophyll A or protect the cell from photodamage. Dinoflagellates, for example, the photosynthetic protists responsible for the "red tides" that frequently prompt warnings against eating shellfish, contain a variety of light-sensitive pigments, including both chlorophyll and the red pigments responsible for their dramatic colouration.

Plants contain many different types of pigments. These pigments are chemical compounds that absorb light at various wavelengths. Chlorophyll is the primary pigment used in photosynthesis. Carotenoids and xanthophylls are examples of accessory pigments. Algae, cyanobacteria, and plants all contain different chlorophyll pigments. Chlorophyll is the main pigment for photosynthesis in higher plants, and it serves as the reaction centre of photosystems. Accessory pigments form light-harvesting complexes that increase photosynthesis efficiency by absorbing different wavelengths.

Note:
- Carotenoids are pigments that are typically red, orange, or yellow and include the well-known compound carotene, which gives carrots their colour. These compounds are made up of two small six-carbon rings that are linked together by a "chain" of carbon atoms. As a result, they do not dissolve in water and must be attached to cell membranes.
- Carotenoids cannot directly transfer sunlight energy to the photosynthetic pathway, but must instead pass it through chlorophyll. As a result, they are referred to as accessory pigments. Fucoxanthin, a brown pigment that colours kelps and other brown algae as well as diatoms, is one of the most visible accessory pigments.