- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Botany
- Chapter
- Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
NEET · Botany · Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
What is studied to understand the ability of chlorophyll a to...
Options
- AChromatogram
- BGraph showing absorption of different wavelengths
- CPaper chromatography
- DStructure of chloroplasts
Correct answer
B. Graph showing absorption of different wavelengths
Step-by-step solution
A chromatographic separation of the leaf pigments shows that the colour that we see in leaves is not due to a single pigment but due to four pigments: Chlorophyll a (bright or blue green in the chromatogram), chlorophyll b (yellow green), xanthophylls (yellow) and carotenoids (yellow to yellow-orange). Let us now see what roles various pigments play in photosynthesis. Pigments are substances that have an ability to absorb light, at specific wavelengths. Can you guess which is the most abundant plant pigment in the world? Let us study the graph showing the ability of chlorophyll a pigment to absorb lights of different wavelengths. Of course, you are familiar with the wavelength of the visible spectrum of light as well as the VIBGYOR.