5.6- Photosynthetic Pigments

Edexcel B Biology

describe what is meant by absorption spectrum

-a graph that shows the percentage of each wavelength of light that a pigment absorbs

describe what is meant by action spectrum

-a graph that shows the overall rate of photosynthesis at each wavelength of light

-strongly corresponds to absorption spectrum of chlorophyll a (the most abundant)

describe why plants have a variety of photosynthetic pigments

-to widen the range of wavelengths of light they can absorb to ensure maximum rate of photosynthesis

*particularly important for plants in shaded regions*

name the two main groups of photosynthetic pigments

-chlorophyll (made of chlorophyll a/b)

-carotenoids (carotene and xanthophylls)