Pigments are “molecules
that absorb specific
wavelength (energies) of
light and reflect all others.”
Pigments are colored.
The color we see is the net
effect of all light reflecting
back at us.
Primary function: Photosynthesis
Uses green pigment chlorophyll along with several red and
yellow pigments.
Help to capture as much light as possible
Other functions include attracting insects to flowers to
encourage pollination.
Chlorophylls appear green
because the pigments
absorb light on all of the
color ranges, and only green
is transmitted to our eyes.
Chlorophyll a is the core
pigment that absorbs
sunlight for light-dependent
photosynthesis.
The principal pigments in
Chlorophyll b
Carotenoids
Xanthophylls
Anthocyanins
Primary pigment in plant.
Chlorin absorbs yellow and blue wavelengths
Reflecting green.
All land plants and green algae have two types of
chlorophyll.
Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b.
Kelps and photosynthetic heterokonts contain
chlorophyll c.
Chlorophyll serve as fuel to photosynthesis.
Molecular formula:
C55H72MgN4O5
CH3 is a chemical symbol used to represent a methyl
group, which is a functional group consisting of a carbon
atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms. The methyl
group is often found in organic compounds, such as
methane (CH4), methanol (CH3OH), and methyl ethyl
ketone (CH3COC2H5).
CHO stands for crbohydrates, referencing the three
constituent elements, carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and
Oxygen (O)
The chemical formula for Chlorophyll-a is
C55H72O5N4Mg, meaning it has 55 carbon, 72
hydrogen, 5 oxygen, 4 nitrogen, and 1 magnesium
Chloros means “green” and phyllon
means “leaf”
Synthesized from succinyl-CoA and
Glycine
Contains hydrophobic phytol chain
embedded in membrane
Rest structure is tetrapyrrolic ring
It is the part of pigment that absorbs the
energy from light
They pass along light energy
to chlorophyll a and act as
antioxidants.
The molecular structure gives
xanthophylls the ability to
accept or donate electrons.
Xanthophyll pigments
produce the yellow color in
fall leaves.
• Mesophyll cells-
possess specialized
structures called
chloroplasts where
photosynthetic pigments
are located
• Other pigments that are
not involved in
photosynthesis are
stored in the vacuole.
Autotrophic Process: Plants and plant-like
organisms make their energy (glucose) from
sunlight.
Stored as carbohydrate in their bodies.
6CO2 + 6H2O +sunlight C6H12O6 + 602
Makes organic molecules (glucose) out of inorganic
materials (CO2 and water)
Begins all food chains/webs.
It also makes oxygen.
• Literally “flower blue”
• Water soluble flavonoid pigments
• Color appear as red to blue, acc to pH.
• Occur in all tissues of higher plants but color not
noticeable.
• Have purple color and are present in vegetables:
• (onions, cabbage, potatoes), red, blue & purple
(berries, black beans)
• Attract pollinators and seed dispersers
• Repel predators, protect cells from damage by
excess light
• Improve plant tolerance to stress such as drought,
UV-B
• Improve night vision and other vision
• Disorders, protect against heart disease
