### Photosynthetic Pigments: Structures and FunctionsThis image provides the chemical structures of key photosynthetic pigments: chlorophylls, carotene, and xanthophyll, which are essential for the process of photosynthesis in plants.#### Chlorophyll1. **Chlorophyll Structure:** - **Porphyrin Ring:** The main structure is a porphyrin ring composed of four nitrogen-containing pyrrole rings interconnected by carbon bridges. This structure is crucial for absorbing light. - **Magnesium Ion (Mg++):** At the center of the porphyrin ring, a magnesium ion coordinates with the nitrogen atoms, playing a critical role in light absorption. - **Phytol Tail:** A long hydrophobic carbon chain called the phytol tail helps anchor the chlorophyll molecule in the photosynthetic membrane.2. **Variations of Chlorophyll:** - **Chlorophyll a:** Identified by a methyl group (CH₃) on the porphyrin ring. - **Chlorophyll b:** Distinguished by an aldehyde group (CHO) replacing a CH₃ on the porphyrin ring.#### Carotenoids1. **Carotene:** - Composed of a long carbon chain with alternating double bonds (conjugated system), which is essential for capturing light energy. - Lacks oxygen atoms, making it a purely hydrocarbon structure.2. **Xanthophyll:** - Similar structure to carotene with a conjugated system, providing light-absorbing properties. - Contains oxygen, typically in the form of hydroxyl (OH) groups, distinguishing it from carotene.These pigments differ slightly in their structures, which affects their specific role in absorbing sunlight across different spectra, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency. Chlorophyll primarily absorbs blue and red wavelengths, while carotenoids expand the range of light absorbed by capturing blue-green to blue light. **Why is one pigment more soluble than another? Consider Figure 4.5.**The solubility of pigments can be influenced by several factors, including molecular structure, polarity, and interactions with solvents. Figure 4.5 likely illustrates these concepts through diagrams or data visualizations, showing how structural differences in pigments affect their solubility in various solvents. For example, the figure may depict molecular structures, highlight regions of polarity, or compare solubility rates across different solvents. This can help in understanding why certain pigments dissolve more readily based on these attributes.

Chlorophyll is a pigment present in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplast in a plant, very crucial…

Answered: Why is one pigment more soluble than…

Biology 2e

2nd Edition

ISBN:9781947172517

Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark

Publisher:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark

Chapter8: Photosynthesis

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 15RQ: Plants containing only chlorophyll b are exposed to radiation with the following wavelengths: 10nm...

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Similar questions

Melvin Calvin and Andrew Benson determined the steps in the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis by exposing the green alga Chlorella to CO2 labeled with the radioisotope carbon 14. By looking at which compounds the C14 ended up in, they were able to identify all intermediates in this cyclic pathway. Why did they predict correctly that the same set of intermediates would be formed in the light reaction in land plants?
Which molecule must enter the Calvin cycle continually for the light-independent reactions to take place? RuBisCO RuBP 3-PGA CO2
Which of the following structures is not a component of a photosystem? ATP synthase antenna molecule reaction center primary electron acceptor
In 1976, a team of chemists in the United Kingdom was developing new insecticides by modifying sugars with chlorine Cl2, phosgene Cl2CO, and other toxic gases. One young Member of the team misunderstood his verbal instructions to test a newly made candidate substance. He thought he had been told to taste it. Luckily for him, the substance was not toxic, but it was very sweet. It became the food additive sucralose. Sucralose has three chlorine atoms substituted for three hydroxyl groups of sucrose table sugar. It binds so strongly to the sweet-taste receptors on the tongue that the human brain perceives it as 600 times sweeter than sucrose. Sucralose was originally marketed as an artificial sweetener called Splenda, but it is now available under several other brand names. Researchers investigated whether the body recognizes sucralose as a carbohydrate. They began by feeding sucralose labeled with 14C to volunteers. Analysis of the radioactive molecules in the volunteers urine and feces showed that 92.8 percent of the sucralose passed through the body without being altered. Many people are worried that the chlorine atoms impart toxicity to sucralose. How would you respond to that concern?
Which complex is not involved in the establishment of conditions for ATP synthesis? photosystem I ATP synthase photosystem II cytochrome complex
Figure 8.18 Which of the following statements is true? In photosynthesis, oxygen, carbon dioxide, ATP, and NADPH are reactants. G3P and water are products. In photosynthesis, chlorophyll, water, and carbon dioxide are reactants. G3P and oxygen are products. In photosynthesis, water, carbon dioxide, ATP, and NADPH are reactants. RuBP and oxygen are products. In photosynthesis, water and carbon dioxide are reactants. G3P and oxygen are products.
Which of the following components is nor used by both plants and cyanobacteria to carry out photosynthesis? chloroplasts chlorophyll carbon dioxide water
Which statement correctly describes carbon fixation? the conversion of CO2 into an organic compound the use of RuBisCO to form 3-PGA the production of carbohydrate molecules from G3P the formation of RuBP from G3P molecules the use of ATP and NADPH to reduce CO2
What is the significance that the combined absorption spectra of chlorophylls a and b roughly match the action spectrum of photosynthesis? Would photosynthesis be more efficient if their individual absorption spectra coincided exactly?
In 1976, a team of chemists in the United Kingdom was developing new insecticides by modifying sugars with chlorine (Cl2), phosgene (Cl2CO), and other toxic gases. One young member of the team misunderstood his verbal instructions to test a new molecule. He thought he had been told to taste it. Luckily for him, the molecule was not toxic, but it was very sweet. It became the food additive sucralose. Sucralose has three chlorine atoms substituted for three hydroxyl groups of sucrose (table sugar): The altered sugar binds so strongly to the sweet-taste receptors on the tongue that the human brain perceives it as 600 times sweeter than sucrose. Sucralose was originally marketed as an artificial sweetener called Splenda, but it is now available under several other brand names. Researchers investigated whether the body recognizes sucralose as a carbohydrate by feeding sucralose labeled with 14C to volunteers. Analysis of the radioactive molecules in the volunteers urine and feces showed that 92.8 percent of the sucralose passed through the body without being altered. Some people are worried that the chlorine atoms impart toxicity to sucralose. How would you respond to that concern?
EVOLUTION LINK Why did the evolution of multicellular organisms such as plants and animals have to be preceded by the evolution of oxygen-producing photosynthesis?
Which of the following is a correct step in the light-dependent reactions of the Z system? a. Light is absorbed at P700, and electrons flow through a pathway to NADP+, the final acceptor of the linear pathway. b. Electrons flow from photosystem II to water. c. NADP+ is oxidized to NADPH as it accepts electrons. d. Water is degraded to activate P680. e. Electrons pass through a thylakoid membrane to create energy to pump H+ through the cytochrome complex.

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