Chlorophyll a

Definition

Chlorophyll a is the primary pigment involved in photosynthesis, responsible for capturing light energy. It absorbs mostly blue-violet and red light, reflecting green light which gives plants their characteristic color.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Chlorophyll a is located in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.
2. It plays a crucial role in converting solar energy into chemical energy during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
3. The absorption peaks for chlorophyll a are around 430 nm (blue) and 662 nm (red).
4. Chlorophyll a cannot absorb green light effectively, which is why plants appear green.
5. It works alongside accessory pigments like chlorophyll b and carotenoids to broaden the spectrum of absorbed light.

Review Questions

• Where is chlorophyll a primarily located within plant cells?
• Which wavelengths of light does chlorophyll a absorb most efficiently?
• What role does chlorophyll a play in the photosynthetic process?

Related terms

Chloroplast: Organelles where photosynthesis takes place, containing thylakoids which house chlorophyll.

Thylakoid Membrane: A membrane-bound compartment inside chloroplasts where the light-dependent reactions occur.

Photosystem II: The first protein complex in the light-dependent reactions that uses absorbed light to split water molecules.