Light Harvesting

Question 1

What is an absorption spectrum?

Answer 1

A graph showing how much light is absorbed at different wavelengths.

Question 2

What is an action spectrum?

Answer 2

A graph showing the rate of photosynthesis at different wavelengths.

Question 3

What do chlorophyll and carotenoids absorb and reflect?

Answer 3

Chlorophyll a and b absorb red and blue-violet light and reflect green
Carotenoids absorb blue green light and reflect yellow-orange

Question 4

What is an antenna complex in a photo system?

Answer 4

It contains the photosynthetic pigments - chlorophyll and carotenoids are anchored in the phospholipids of the thylakoid membranes, held together by protein molecules

Question 5

What is a reaction centre in a photo system?

Answer 5

It is within the antenna complex, containing 2 molecules of chlorophyll A

Question 6

What are accessory/antenna pigments?

Answer 6

Chlorophyll B and carotenoids, whereas chlorophyll A is the primary pigment