12

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1
QUARTER 2 – MODULE 1b

“COLOR REFLECTIONS!”
 What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.
1. What organelle takes in light energy to produce food energy?
A. Chlorophyll
B. Chloroplast
C. Chlorophage
D. Chlorolous
2. Which of the following is the main reason why leaves look color green?
A. It reflects all colors but green
B. It absorbs green light
C. It reflects green light
D. It reflects yellow and blue
3. This is the main pigment used in photosynthesis?
A. Chlorophyll
B. Chloroplast
C. Light Energy
D. Green Pigment
4. Which wavelengths of light do chlorophyll absorb the best?
A. Green and Red
B. Red and Blue
C. Green and Blue
D. Red, Green and Blue
5. Which pigment is found in the highest quantity in all photosynthesizing plants?
A. Chlorophyll a
B. Chlorophyll b
C. Chlorophyll c
D. Chlorophyll d
6. Which technique of demonstrating the different photosynthetic pigments
describes the different amount of light at different wavelengths that is absorbed
by either the individual pigments or the chloroplast as a whole? How does ATP
provide energy for the cell?
A. Action spectra
B. Chromatography
C. Absorption spectra
D. Light energy
7. What provides the energy to allow chlorophyll to do photosynthesis?
A. Heat
B. Glucose
C. Oxygen
D. Visible Light
8. How does the redness in leaves protect them?
A. The red blocks sun damage
B. The red helps them fall off
 C. The red helps them be seen by birds
D. All of the Above
9. What is the reason that leaves end up being brown?
A. Brown helps to block the sun.
B. Brown is not as easily seen by birds, so birds won't eat the leaves.
C. Frost kills all of the other pigments. Brown is the only one that survives.
D. All of the above.
10. What is the name of the yellow pigments found in leaves?
A. Tannins
B. Chlorophyll
C. Anthocyanins
D. Carotenoids
11. What is the name of the red pigments found in leaves?
A. Tannins
B. Chlorophyll
C. Anthocyanins
D. Carotenoids
12. What is the brown pigment called?
A. Tannins
B. Chlorophyll
C. Anthocyanins
D. Carotenoids
13. Which pigment is responsible for the process of sunlight?
A. Chlorophyll a
B. Chlorophyll b
C. Xanthophyll
D. Anthocyanin
14. Which pigment constitutes majorly in absorbing sunlight for photosynthesis?
A. Chlorophyll a
B. Chlorophyll b
C. Xanthophyll
D. Anthocyanin
15. Which of the following is a type of yellow colored pigments, which are abundantly
found in lemons, grapefruit, oranges and in some ark and yellow colored flowers.
A. Flavonoids
B. Anthocyanin
C. Chlorophyll b
D. Xanthophyll
 What’s In

One of the examples of endergonic reactions include endothermic reactions, such

as photosynthesis. Through this process, plants are experts at capturing light energy
and using it to make sugars. This process begins with the absorption of light by
specialized organic molecules, called pigments, that are found in the chloroplasts of
plant cells.

Here, we’ll consider light as a form of energy, and we'll also see how pigments
such as the chlorophylls that make plants green absorb that energy and the two groups
of pigments that are important in plants: chlorophylls and carotenoids.

What’s New

Plants are green because chlorophyll reflects

green light. Many people think that chlorophyll
is green because it wants to absorb and use
green light. However, this is not true. The color
we see is actually the color of light that is being
reflected. Therefore, chlorophyll reflects green
light, while absorbing red and blue light. As a
result, the brain interprets the color as green
Source: http://www. google.com given that this is the color that is reflected by
chlorophyll.  
Unlike human beings, some animals are capable of distinguishing between more
basic wavelengths of light (e.g. birds which are tetrachromatic) and can, therefore,
differentiate between more colors.

Although it is not possible to actually tell how objects in the physical world appear
to some animals (e.g. birds and insects) studies have shown that color vision is more
effective for some of these organisms.

Most photosynthetic organisms have a variety of different pigments, so they can

absorb energy from a wide range of wavelengths.
 What is It

Light Energy
Light is a form of electromagnetic radiation, a type of energy that travels in waves.
Other kinds of electromagnetic radiation that we encounter in our daily lives include
radio waves, microwaves, and X-rays. Together, all the types of electromagnetic
radiation make up the electromagnetic spectrum.
Every electromagnetic wave has a particular wavelength, or distance from one
crest to the next, and different types of radiation have different characteristic ranges of
wavelengths (as shown in the diagram below). Types of radiation with long wavelengths,
such as radio waves, carry less energy than types of radiation with short wavelengths,
such as X-rays.

Image modified from "Electromagnetic spectrum," by Inductiveload (CC BY-

SA 3.0), and "EM spectrum," by Philip Ronan (CC BY-SA 3.0). The modified image
is licensed under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

The visible spectrum is the only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that can
be seen by the human eye. It includes electromagnetic radiation whose wavelength is
between about 400 nm and 700 nm. Visible light from the sun appears white, but it’s
actually made up of multiple wavelengths (colors) of light. You can see these different
colors when white light passes through a prism: because the different wavelengths of
light are bent at different angles as they pass through the prism, they spread out and
form what we see as a rainbow. Red light has the longest wavelength and the least
energy, while violet light has the shortest wavelength and the most energy.
Although light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation act as waves under
many conditions, they can behave as particles under others. Each particle of
electromagnetic radiation, called a photon, has certain amount of energy. Types of
radiation with short wavelengths have high-energy photons, whereas types of radiation
with long wavelengths have low-energy photons.
Pigments absorb light used in photosynthesis
Plants and microorganisms that contain chlorophyll may be described as
photosynthetic organisms.
Photosynthetic organisms contain light-absorbing molecules
called pigments that absorb only specific wavelengths of visible light, while reflecting
others.
The set of wavelengths absorbed by a pigment is its absorption spectrum. In the
diagram below, you can see the absorption spectra of three key pigments in
photosynthesis: chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and β-carotene. The set of wavelengths
that a pigment doesn't absorb are reflected, and the reflected light is what we see as
color. For instance, plants appear green to us because they contain many
chlorophyll a and b molecules, which reflect green light.

Optimal absorption of light occurs at different wavelengths for different pigments.

Image modified from "The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis:
Figure 4," by OpenStax College, Biology (CC BY 3.0)

Chlorophylls

The term chlorophyll was coined in 1818 by French Pharmacists; Pierre Joseph
Pelletier and Joseph Bienaime Caventou.
The word chlorophyll comes from two Greek words; Chloros which means green
and phyllon which means leaf.
The different forms of chlorophyll include Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b,
Chlorophyll c, Chlorophyll d, Chlorophyll e and Chlorophyll f plus a related molecule
found in prokaryotes called bacteriochlorophyll.
In plants, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b are the main photosynthetic
pigments. Chlorophyll molecules absorb blue and red wavelengths, as shown by the
peaks in the absorption spectra above.
 • Chlorophyll a: This is the most abundant pigment in
plants. Chlorophyll a absorbs light with wavelengths of
430nm(blue) and 662nm(red). It reflects green light
strongly so it appears green to us.

Source: Leaf: public domain (CC0) by

Author: Adrian Pelletier on Pixnio.com

Source: https://www2.mcdaniel.edu/Biology/botf99/photo/p3igments.html

• Chlorophyll b: This molecule has a structure similar to that of chlorophyll a. It

absorbs light of 453nm and 642 nm maximally. It is not as abundant as chlorophyll
a, and probably evolved later. It helps increase the range of light a plant can use for
energy.
Although both chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b absorb light, chlorophyll a play a
unique and crucial role in converting light energy to chemical energy.
All photosynthetic plants, algae, and cyanobacteria contain chlorophyll a,
whereas only plants and green algae contain chlorophyll b, along with a few types of
cyanobacteria.
 Because of the central role of chlorophyll a in photosynthesis, all pigments used
in addition to chlorophyll a are known as accessory pigments—including other
chlorophylls, as well as other classes of pigments like the carotenoids. The use of
accessory pigments allows a broader range of wavelengths to be absorbed, and thus,
more energy to be captured from sunlight.
• Chlorophyll c is a form of chlorophyll found in certain marine algae, including
the photosynthetic Chromista (e.g. diatoms and brown algae) and dinoflagellates.
It has a blue-green color and is an accessory pigment, particularly significant in
its absorption of light in the 447–52 nm wavelength region.
• Chlorophyll d was discovered in small quantities in red algae in 1943, was often
regarded as an artefact of isolation. Now, as a result of discoveries over the past
year, it has become clear that Chl d is the major chlorophyll of a free-living and
widely distributed cyanobacterium that lives in light environments depleted in
visible light and enhanced in infrared radiation.
• Chlorophyll e is found only in algae.
• Chlorophyll f is a type form of chlorophyll that absorbs further in the red
(infrared light) than other chlorophylls. It’s in photosynthetic reactions is
uncertain and the ecological distribution of chlorophyll f remains unknown. It
has been shown to support some of the roles in photosynthetic reactions, in both
the energy transfer and in the charge separation processes.

Carotenoids
Carotenoids are another key group of pigments that absorb violet and blue-green
light (see spectrum graph above). The brightly colored carotenoids found in fruit—such
as the red of tomato (lycopene), the yellow of corn seeds (zeaxanthin), or the orange of
an orange peel (β-carotene), yellow pigment found in fruits and vegetables (lutein) are
often used as advertisements to attract animals, which can help disperse the plant's
seeds.
In photosynthesis, carotenoids help capture light, but they also have an
important role in getting rid of excess light energy. When a leaf is exposed to full sun, it
receives a huge amount of energy; if that energy is not handled properly, it can damage
the photosynthetic machinery. Carotenoids in chloroplasts help absorb the excess
energy and dissipate it as heat.

Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid pigments found naturally in all the tissues
of the higher group of plants. This pigment functions by providing color to the stem,
leaves, roots, fruits, and flowers. Based on their pH, this type of pigments appears red,
blue, purple and other dark colors.

Flavonoids are a type of yellow colored pigments, which are abundantly found
in lemons, grapefruit, oranges and in some ark and yellow colored flowers. This type of
pigments is largely found in the plastids and cytoplasm of the plant cell. Flavonoids are
the chemicals with the antioxidant properties and help in lowering the cholesterol levels.
Other applications of flavonoids are:
1. They are extracted and utilized as dyes.
2. These pigments such as lycopene and astaxanthin are used as a dietary
supplement in most of the food products.
 Uses and benefits of Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is perhaps the most important naturally occurring pigment on the

planet. Found in plants and some microorganisms (e.g. cyanobacteria), these
porphyrins play an important role in the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy
through a process known as photosynthesis.
1. The different forms are essential for life given that they are responsible for
the autotrophic nature of plants and some microorganisms.
2. They are also used for a number of commercial purposes in agriculture and
the food industry.
3. People use chlorophyll as medicine. Common sources of chlorophyll used for
medicine include alfalfa, algae, and silkworm droppings.
4. It is used for bad breath and reducing colostomy odor. Chlorophyll is also
used for constipation, "detoxification," and wound healing.
5. Healthcare providers use chlorophyll intravenously for removing skin cancer
and for treating a pancreas problem called chronic relapsing pancreatitis.
6. It is applied to the skin for acne and for removing skin cancer and lesions
from herpes infections.
7. It is registered as a food additive (colorant), and its E number is E140.
8. It improves milk function in lactating mothers.
9. It acts like a physiological stimulant of red blood cells in the bone marrow.
10. Cleans and detox the body of carbon dioxide, toxins and stress.

What’s More

A. Directions: Here are some keywords linked to leaf pigments but they have become
scrambled. Can you unscramble? Write them in a table below: (10 points)

afel lclhrohoylp dionsoretac spaltn

mengipts ninaycshotan diovonslaf lenthevawegs

Write the keywords below:

B. Directions: Using your knowledge, complete the text below about chlorophyll and other
pigments.

1. Chlorophyll is p_ _ _ _ _ _ present in all g_ _ _ _ plants and a few other organisms. It is

required for p_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, which is the process by which light energy is
converted to chemical energy.
2. In plants, chlorophyll exists in several forms but chlorophyll _ and chlorophyll _ are
the m_ _ _ photosynthetic pigments. Chlorophyll molecules absorb b_ _ _ and r _ _
wavelengths.
3. Chlorophyll c is found in certain m_ _ _ _ _ algae and Chlorophyll d is found in certain
species of c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Even rarer is Chlorophyll e found only in some g_ _
_ _ _ algae. Interestingly, chlorophyll has a similar structure to h_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _,
which is found in red blood cells of vertebrates.
4. Because of the central role of chlorophyll a in photosynthesis, all pigments used in
addition to chlorophyll a are known as a_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ pigments. The use of accessory
pigments allows a broader range of w_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to be absorbed, and thus, more
energy to be captured from s_ _ _ _ _ _ _.
5. Carotenoids are another key group of pigments that absorb v_ _ _ _ _ and b _ _ _-
green light. Carotenoids in chloroplasts help absorb the excess e_ _ _ _ _ and
dissipate it as h_ _ _.
6. A_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ are a type of flavonoid pigments found naturally in all the tissues
of the higher group of plants. Based on their pH, this type of pigments appears r_ _,
b_ _ _, p_ _ _ _ _ and other dark colors.
7. F_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ are a type of yellow colored pigments, which are abundantly found
in lemons, grapefruit, oranges and in some ark and yellow colored flowers. This type
of pigments is largely found in the plastids and c_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _of the plant cell.
8. Actually, plants that grow in shady regions contain chlorophyll _, which can absorb
low-intensity l_ _ _ _. The leaves of such plants are darker compared to the leaves of
plants that grow in light with high intensity.
 What I Have Learned
Directions: Complete the diagram below by giving a short description
about the Forms of Chlorophyll. (8 points)

a. Chlorophyll a
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
b. Chlorophyll b
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
c. Chlorophyll c
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________.
d. Chlorophyll d
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________.
 What I Can Do

Directions: In this activity, you will create 6 one-inch squares from the different colors
of cellophane and the black construction paper to make a sort of bag distributing the
colors as evenly as possible over the entire plant leaving the plant near a window for a
week.
Problem: Which wavelength of light most effectively produce chlorophyll?
Materials:
• Cellophane in different colors
• Scissors
• Black Construction Paper
• Clear tape
• Green plant with many leaves
Procedure:
1. Cut out 6- one-inch squares from each color of cellophane. To make your own
“colored cellophane”, just color thin sheets of plastic with different colors of permanent
markers.
2. Cut out 6- one-inch squares from the black construction paper.
3. Take two squares of the same color, and tape together three (3) of the edges to make
a sort of bag.
4. Repeat this process with the rest of the squares, distributing the colors as evenly as
possible over the entire plant.
5. Leave the plant near a window for a week. Rotate the plant each day so that the
leaves get similar amounts of sunlight.
6. Carefully remove the bags from the leaves, taking data about the leaf’s color as you
remove each one. (You can use a chart). Make sure not to lose track of which bag each
leaf had on it.
7. Record any other observations.
Conclusion:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________.
 Assessment

Multiple Choice. Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a
separate sheet of paper.
1. In what organelles both chlorophyll and the carotenoids are found within plant cells?
A. Stroma
B. Chloroplasts
C. Mitochondria
D. Lysosomes

2. In addition to chlorophyll and carotenoids, plant cells contain phycocyanins and

phycoerythrins which assist in light absorption. If light made up of continuous
wavelengths from 400 to 700 nm is passed through solutions of the pigments, the
pigments exhibit different absorption spectra. Chlorophyl b, for example, absorbs
strongly near 450 nm and 650 nm, while the phycocyanins and phycoerythrins
absorb more strongly in the region from 475 to 525 nm. What value might these
different absorptions have to the plant cell?
A. A wide range of pigments is more attractive to gardeners who select the most
beautiful plants.
B. A wide range of pigments allows the plant cell to harvest more of the available
light.
C. The different absorption peaks are very useful to analytical chemists and
evolved for that reason.
D. There is no actual advantage to the distribution of pigments.

3. Chloroplasts have membranes which contain ATP synthase similar to?

A. Mitochondria
B. Peroxisomes
C. Golgi Apparatus
D. Endoplasmic Reticulum

4. Many natural and synthetic materials fluoresce. The light absorbed by a molecule
has?
A. A longer wavelength than the light emitted
B. A shorter wavelength than the light emitted
C. The same wavelength as the light emitted
D. The same color as the light emitted

5. How do chlorophyll a and accessory pigments differ?

A. Accessory pigments can convert photons of light into energy.
B. Accessory pigments can't convert photons of light into energy.
C. Chlorophyll-a passes its absorbed energy onto the accessory proteins for
energy production.
D. There are no differences between chlorophyll-a and accessory pigments;
chlorophyll-a is an accessory pigment.
6. Which one of the following compounds is an accessory pigment?
A. Carotenoids
B. Phycocyanins
C. Phycoerythrins
D. All of the answers are correct

7. Which wavelengths of light are absorbed by carotenoids?

A. yellow to red
B. green to yellow
C. violet to green
D. red to blue

8. The light absorbing pigments, such as chlorophyll and carotenoids, are located in the
________?
A. Cell wall
B. Stroma
C. Stomata
D. Thylakoid membrane

9. Which pigment is the smallest molecule?

A. Carotene
B. Chlorophyll a
C. Chlorophyll b
D. Xanthophyll

10. Which pigment is the largest molecule?

A. Carotene
B. Chlorophyll a
C. Chlorophyll b
D. Xanthophyll

11. The color of light that is LEAST useful to a plant during photosynthesis?
A. Red
B. Blue
C. Green
D. Orange

12. Which of the following pigments are present in all photosynthetic plants?
A. Chlorophyll a
B. Chlorophyll a and b
C. Chlorophyll a and carotenoids
D. Chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids

13. The photosynthetic activity of chlorophyll is maximum at?

A. Red light
B. Blue light
C. Violet light
D. Blue and violet light
14. The only part of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be seen by the human eye?
A. Magnetic Spectrum
B. Visible Spectrum
C. Invisible Spectrum
D. Light Energy

15. Which of the following is a water-soluble pigment?

A. Chlorophyll a
B. Chlorophyll b
C. Carotenoids
D. Phycobilins

Additional Activities

Directions: Give the uses or benefits of chlorophyll by filling out the bubble map
below. (6 Points).