Question
Biology Question on Photosynthesis in higher plants
Which element is located at the centre of the porphyrin ring in chlorophyll ?
A
Calcium
B
Magnesium
C
Potassium
D
Manganese
Answer
Magnesium
Explanation
Solution
Chlorophyll is the green pigment present in plants and some photosynthetic bacteria. The empirical formula of chlorophyll-a molecule is C55H72O5N4Mg. It consist of a porphyrin head and a phytol tail. Porphyrin is a cyclic tetrapyrrole structure, having a magnesium atom in the centre. Tail is consisted of phytol alcohol and it is attached with one of the pyrrole rings. The chlorophyll has empirical formula of C55H72O5N4Mg. It's molecular structure is comparable with chlorophyll-a.