What are Pigments?

Pigments are defined as the set of compounds that have an intense colour and are used in the
colouring of other materials. These colouring substances are also called Biological Pigments or the
Biochromes, which mainly refers to the true pigments. These biological pigments are insoluble in
water and are applied as ground particles in solid form with the liquids. We can find various type of
Biological pigments in both plants as well as animals.
The pigments are produced by the living organisms and have a colour, which results from the
colour absorption techniques. There are two different types of pigments an are classified base on
their sources.

Organic pigments
The organic pigments are made from some of the natural sources.

Inorganic pigments
The inorganic pigments, also called the synthetic pigments are derived from the coal tars and some
of the other form of petrochemicals. In some rare cases, these pigments can also be synthesized by a
simpler form of chemical reactions called oxidation.
Pigments are the chemical substances, which exhibit wavelengths of the visible light, making them
appear colourful. Plants, flowers, algae, certain photosynthetic bacteria and even the skin of animals
have a particular type of pigments, which provide colours and also have an ability to absorb some
wavelengths.
Types of Pigment in Plants
Plants have a unique feature of capturing the light energy and convert it into sugars through the
process called photosynthesis. The process begins with the absorption of light energy by some
specialized form of organic molecules, called the pigments. The photosynthesis, a biological
process requires green coloured pigment called chlorophyll along with other forms of yellow and
red coloured pigments.
Other essential plant pigments include anthocyanins, betalains, carotenoids, porphyrins and much
more. All these pigments stimulate the process of chemical reactions by reflecting the wavelengths.