Photosynthetic Pigments

Question 1

What are the 2 types of pigments in chloroplasts?

Answer 1

• Chlorophylls
• Carotenoids

Question 2

Why have multiple accessory pigments?

Answer 2

To expand the wavelength range of light that can be used in photosynthesis

Question 3

What are photosystems?

Answer 3

• PSI and PSII
• Collection of pigments that absorb light energy and transfer energy to electrons
• Different pigment molecules are arranged in funnel like structures in thylakoid membrane
• Each pigment molecule passes energy down to the next pigment molecule in the cluster until it reaches the primary pigment reaction centre

Question 4

What is PSI?

Answer 4

• Contains primary pigment P700
• Absorbs light of wavelength 700nm
• In the middle of the electron transport chain

Question 5

What is PSII?

Answer 5

• Contains primary pigment P680
• Absorbs light at a wavelength of 680nm
• At beginning of ELTC
• Where photolysis takes place