Plant pigment extraction and analysis exercise 6

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy

Photosynthetic organisms are also known as

Producers

The foundation of food chains

Photosynthetic organisms

Photosynthetic organisms take inorganic carbon and convert it into___ which is used as energy for the entire biosphere

Organic sugars

The inner space membrane of a chloroplast contains interconnected sacs individually known as___ and come in stacks of ___

Thylakoids and grana

Thylakoids contains ___ and other pigments that play a crucial role in photosynthesis

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the primary pigment responsible for capturing light energy during

Photosynthesis

Chlorophyll a

Absorbs light most effectively

Absorbs red and blue

Yields a blue green appearance

Chlorophyll b

Accessory pigment captures light in different wavelengths

Yellow green appearance

Chlorophyll a and b work together to

Harness a broader range of light for photosynthesis

Accessory pigments

Light absorbing compounds that broader the range of wavelengths that can be absorbed by photosynthetic organisms. Also maximize energy capture of plants and help the plant be adaptive to light conditions.

Transfer captured energy to chlorophyll a to drive photosynthesis reactions

Pigments

Carotenoids

Pigments that appear yellow, orange, or red. Absorb blue and green parts of the spectrum

Complement chlorophyll’s absorption

Carotenoids types

Carotenes and xanthophylls

Carotenes

Hydrocarbons that absorb in UV, violet, and blue light, scattering red or orange light

Xanthophylls

Present in the leaves of most green plants and appear orange to yellow.

Anthocyanins

Water soluble pigments found in CHROMOPLASTs

What colors do anthocyanins give

Red blue or purple based on pH.

Anthocyanins are directly involved in photosynthesis

They are indirectly involved

Anthocyanins prevents against___ and attract ___

UV rays and pollinators

A spectrophotometer can be used to

Determine precise wavelengths of light

On an absorption spectrum, ___ is plotted against___

Wavelength against absorbence

An absorption spectrum allows one to easily determine

Which wavelengths are absorbed pigments as well as those that are reflected

Spectra of thylakoid membrane associated pigments must be extracted from leaves using___ to determine the absorption .

Organic solvents

This lab will use 3 solutions

Acetone, petroleum ether, and ethanol

How will pigments be separated

Column chromatography

The column is made of the ___ phase and the organic solvent is made of the ___ phase.

Solid and liquid

We will start with a non polar solvent and gradually increase

Polarity

Fractions comparing pigments are produced, and the can be analyzed via

Spectrophotometry