Plant Pigments Flashcards
What causes plants to have colors?
The interaction between light and pigments
Electromagnetic energy, and can behave as a wave and a particle
Light
Types of electromagnetic waves (spectrum)
Radio
Micro
Infrared
Visible light
Ultraviolet
X-ray
Gamma-ray
A form of radiation that travels in the universe
Electromagnetic waves
A travelling distance transporting energy from one place to another
Wave
A portion of matter
Particle
Components of Waves
Frequency
Wavelength
Amplitude
Distance of a wave from another
Wavelength
Distance from the maximum and minimum heigth of a wave
Amplitude
Total number of waves from a cycle
Frequency
λ
Wavelength
f
Frequency
A
Amplitude
v
Velocity
λ = v/f
Relationship between Wavelength, Amplitude, and Velocity
Smaller wavelength and more frequency means
Higher energy (Inversely Proportional)
Longer wavelength and less frequency means
Lower Energy (Inversely Proportiona)
Higher amplitude higher frequency
Higher Energy (Inversely Proportional)
Lower Amplitude & lower frequency
Less Energy (Directly Proportional)
Specific wavelength needed to drive photosynthesis & is allowed in the atmosphere to support life
400nm - 700nm
380nm - 740nm (More specific) - Visible Light
When light meets matter it is…
Reflected
Absorbed
Transferred
The reflection & transmission of light yields
Color
What happens when a specific color is not seen?
It is absorbed
What is the result if all light is absorbed?
Black
What color occurs when all light is reflected
White
What happens when the wavelength of light received does not match the receiver?
It is either reflected or transferred, not absorbed
Without specific pigments, what would happen to plants?
Plants wouldn’t have the ability to do photosynthesis
Energy would be less
Why is color important for flowers?
It atracts pollenators
Types of Pigments
Chlorophyll
Carotenoids
Anthocyanine
Betalains
- Most important in driving photosynthesis
- Green in appearance
Chlorophyll
- Found in chromoplast (another plastid)
- Reflects yellow, orrange, and red
- Absorbs blue and green
Carotenoid
- Water soluble
- Reflects blue, purple, red
Anthocyanine
- Example is dragonfruit
- Reflects red and yellow
Betalains
Pigments that allows plants to do photosynthesis
Photosynthetic pigments
Why do photosynthethic pigments have conjugated double bonds?
To allow greater exposure of electrons, allowing them to become excited
Parts of the chlorophyll
Head Group
Hydrocarbon tail (phytol)
Composed of Hydrophillic porphyrin
Head Group
The anchor and contains physol
Tail
- The most important photosynthetic pigment
- Photosynthetic plants
- Present due to cyanobacteria
Chlorophyll a
- Helps chlorophyll a
- Found in higher plants
- Green Algea
Chlorophyll b
Allows for more energy and photoprotection
Accessory Pigments
Are specific wavelengths necessary for photosynthesis?
Yes
What happens when the energy is insufficient or capped for the specific wavelength needed for photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis does not occur
Which wavelengths allows for greater light absorption and rate of photosynthesis?
Between 400nm - 500nm & 600nm - 700nm
A graph that describes the degree of absorptions of light vs wavelength
Absorption spectrum
Is used to conclude effectiveness of photosynthesis under a specific wavelength
Action spectrum
What is the relationship between the absorption and action spectrum?
Directly proportional
Is used to measure the pigments ability to absorb light under a specific wavelength
Data is then polotted into graphs
Spectrophotometer
Graphs made by the spectrophotometer
Absorption (spectrometer) & Action Spectrums
Two types of photosynthetic pigments
Chlorophyll & Carotenoids
