Study Guide questions 3. Compare your absorption spectra with the action spectrum for photosynthesis.

Based on the action spectrum for photosynthesis and the absorption spectra you obtained, what is the primary pigment involved in photosynthesis? Explain. Absorption spectra tells the amount of absorption of each wavelength chlorophyll, on the other hand, action spectra tells us the most effective wavelength for photosynthesis among the other wavelengths. Engelmann, a German plant physiologist made an experiment and concluded that red and blue light are the most effective colors for photosynthesis. Now, when the absorption of the pigments were measured, it was find out that chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b both have the highest absorption in the regions of red and blue compared with the other pigments. Therefore it can be concluded that chlorophyll a and b are the pigments that best contribute in photosynthesis, though the other pigments also fill in the absorption gaps of chlorophyll so that a larger spectrum of the sun can be used. 4. What are the functions of the other pigments? Carotenes and xanthophylls are two general pigments under carotenoids. Carotenoids can absorb light at a specific wavelength and the light absorb by the pigment can be transferred to chlorophyll a, specifically, which then can be used by the chlorophyll in photosynthesis. Carotenoids can also help in protecting the plants from excessive exposure to sunlight. This is possible by absorbing excess light as heat. Proteins, membranes and other molecules may be destroyed by excess light if there are no carotenoids.