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What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis

What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis

What is chlorophyll?

What is the role of Chlorophyll in photosynthesis? In its simplest form, chlorophyll is the green pigment found in plants, which is needed in order for plants to synthesize energy and in turn, use sunlight to produce glucose or sugar.

Chlorophyll is the green pigment that harvests light for photosynthesis. Plants use chloroplasts (Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll) for the process of Photosynthesis (the process used by plants to convert light energy from sunlight into starch or sugar, and carbon dioxide is released as a waste material.) in order to produce food.

Photosynthesis is a form of biological oxidation. The word comes from the Greek plastikos meaning to form or mold. When sunlight falls on a leaf, chlorophyll reacts by absorbing the light and in the process creating a bond between itself and the center of the leaf’s stalks called stamen. This reaction produces a green pigment called as chlorophyll.

Where is chlorophyll located

Chlorophyll is located within the plant chloroplasts. Specifically, it is located in thylakoid membrane.

Equation for photosynthesis

The Equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2.

It means 6 carbon dioxide molecules and 6 water molecules, are converted by chlorophyll (which is a green pigment that harvests light for photosynthesis) into 1 sugar molecule and six oxygen molecules which are known as the products.

The word equation for photosynthesis is carbon dioxide + water —> glucose + oxygen.

Role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis

1. Main function of chlorophyll

The main function of chlorophyll in photosynthesis is to absorb sunlight in the first place, usually sunlight. The absorbed energy is then transferred to two types of energy-storing cells. Through Photosynthesis, the plants use the energy accumulated from sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into glucose, which is a form of sugars. In order for the plants to do this, they need certain conditions necessary for Photosynthesis.

First of all, there is a need to have an electron (one of the missing particles in an atom). When there are more electrons available than that is needed to power up the chemical reactions needed to break down the sugar into glucose. That’s when the process of Photosynthesis begins. So, in order for chlorophyll and the other sugars to be able to form glucose, there must be conditions necessary for Photosynthesis.

2. Leaves are green in colour due to the presence of pigment called chlorophyll

The chlorophyll molecules have two different types of bases they can use to create energy and the necessary oxygen. The base that chlorophyll uses is called a reductase and the one that makes chlorophyll a stronger antioxidant is called an Oxygenase. The chlorophyll molecules therefore transfer a red light energy to the bases, which in turn makes the photosynthetic enzymes work faster. As a result, chlorophyll does a lot of work in Photosynthesis. It is also the reason why the green color of most plants is produced.

3. Regulation of photosynthetic enzymes

What makes chlorophyll in photosynthesis so important is that it is the only thing in the plants which absorbs both the positive and negative charges which are necessary in order for photosynthesis to occur. Most plants which produce food via Photosynthesis use up both energy in the form of glucose and carbon dioxide. However, chlorophyll absorbs only one negative charge which it uses up releasing carbon dioxide. In doing so, it is responsible for the reduction of both the amount of glucose and the amount of carbon dioxide in the plants. In effect, chlorophyll is responsible for the regulation of the photosynthetic enzyme within plants.

4. Used as antioxidant and a natural pesticide

Chlorophyll in photosynthesis absorbs the ultraviolet rays and produces energy, allowing the plant to develop. chlorophyll is also a powerful antioxidant and a natural pesticide. chlorophyll contains lots of antioxidants like vitamin C and riboflavin. Studies have shown that chlorophyll has the ability to detoxify our bodies of hazardous free radicals.

5. Used to make structure of plants

The reason why plants need chlorophyll is because it makes up a big part of their structure. At the heart of chlorophyll is a pair of double bonds, which are called a double stranded. These are really weak in nature, but when these single bonds are surrounded by an extra chemical reaction called the ablation reaction, chlorophyll becomes even more powerful. The extra chemical reaction cuts the single bonds in half, making them single-stranded again. This process makes chlorophyll extremely fragile and is why it breaks down very easily in a harsh environment.

Is photosynthesis only in plants?

Photosynthesis does not only occur in plants; it occurs in bacteria, algae, and worms. Most of us don’t think too much about Photosynthetic Organisms (phytopathogenic), and hence we never realize how important these organisms are to our existence. All living organisms depend on other Photosynthetic Organisms in their lives. Without Photosynthetic Organisms, the Earth would be over – and algae and bacteria would take over.

There are three different types of Photosynthetic organism. They are: Photosystems, N Photosystems, and O Photosystems. Photosystems are divided into two sub-types: E Photosystems and O Photosystems. These sub-types have different ways in which they use the energy accumulated in the environment to create glucose, with the result being that the plants, animals, and microorganisms that exist on the planet get their food through Photosynthesis.

The Photosynthetic enzymes are responsible for the photosynthetic process. There are many different classes of Photosynthetic Eukaryotic (plant) enzymes. Each class has its own way of making food via Photosynthesis. The Photosynthetic enzyme that is responsible for the Photosynthesis of starch is called N Photosynthetic Enzymes. It is this type of Enzyme which is commonly found in green plants, algae and in some cases in soil bacteria and in bacteria and other prokaryotes.

Read also:

  • Storage Form of Carbohydrates in Animals and Plants

  • Two Phases Of Photosynthesis

  • Describe how photosynthesis and cellular respiration are related?

  • Carbohydrates- definition, sources, types and functions

  • Genetic code?

  • Reproduction In Flowering Plants

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