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Absorption and Action Spectrum

The document discusses pigments, specifically how they absorb different wavelengths of light and their role in photosynthesis. It highlights chlorophyll a and b, as well as carotenoids, and explains the absorption and action spectra, noting that blue and red wavelengths are most effective for photosynthesis while green is the least effective. The action spectrum is determined by measuring photosynthesis rates under various light wavelengths.

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antonia.alarcon.andrade
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13 views

Absorption and Action Spectrum

The document discusses pigments, specifically how they absorb different wavelengths of light and their role in photosynthesis. It highlights chlorophyll a and b, as well as carotenoids, and explains the absorption and action spectra, noting that blue and red wavelengths are most effective for photosynthesis while green is the least effective. The action spectrum is determined by measuring photosynthesis rates under various light wavelengths.

Uploaded by

antonia.alarcon.andrade
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pigments

• Pigment absorb wavelengths of light; different


pigments absorb different wavelengths
White Light
• Contains all the
wavelengths of visible
light
White Light

• When it hits a
pigment, the colors
you can see are
reflected and the
colors you can’t see
are absorbed and
therefore available to
be used as energy for
photosynthesis.
Absorption Spectrum:
• Pattern of wavelengths that a pigment
absorbs.
Chlorophyll a
Chlo
abs rophy
orb ll-a
g d
plan reen l oesn’t
t ig
chlo s with ht. So
gree rophyl lots of ,
n to l-a l
the u s ook
b
bou green ecause
nce
d ba light is
c
eye k to ou
s. r
t
d oes n’
o p hyll-b ht. So,
r g
Chlo green li ts of
rb
Chlorophyll b
lo en to
abso nts with g re
pla l-b look n light
y l e e
hl oroph e the gr o our
c caus d back t
be
us o unce es.
is b ey
Carotenoids:

don’t
s
enoid light.
Carat low or red
orb y el
it h lo ts of
abs lan ts w ange to
So, p r
ids look o
no
carate us.
Be sure you can

Action Spectrum differentiate between


absorption spectrum and
action spectrum

• A graph of wavelength
vs rate of
photosynthesis.
• Profiles the relative
effectiveness of
different wavelengths
of visible light for
driving
photosynthesis.
Action Spectrum
– Determined by illuminating chloroplasts with
different wavelengths of light and measuring
some indicator of photosynthesis rate
• O2 released
• CO2 consumed
• Glucose made
• Amount of plant growth (an indirect measure)
blue and red wavelengths are found to be most effective
and green the least effective

Absorption

Action
blue and red wavelengths are found
It ma to be most effective
k
graph es sense
and green the least effective waves have the sthat these h
le a a
used ngths the me basic ve the tw
for th s o
e act pigments hape… th
ion o a
f pho bsorb ar e
tosyn e
thesi
s.

Absorption

Action

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