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IBPS PO Mains Preparation . 738526
Last Modified 26-03-2025
IBPS PO Mains Preparation Guidelines
March 26, 2025
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Role of Chlorophyll in Photosynthesis
Role of Chlorophyll in Photosynthesis: Green plants are able to produce their own food. This process is performed by a process known as photosynthesis, which involves the usage of a green pigment known as chlorophyll. A pigment is a molecule with a specific colour and the ability to absorb light at various wavelengths depending on the colour. In nature, there are many different pigments, but chlorophyll is special as it allows plants to absorb the energy they need to produce tissues.
Chlorophyll is found in the chloroplasts of a plant’s cells, which are small structures. Photosynthesis takes place in this place. Chlorophyll is found in phytoplankton, the microscopic floating plants that create the foundation of the entire marine food chain, which is why high phytoplankton concentrations may turn water green.
What is Chlorophyll?
The word Chlorophyll is derived from the Greek words khloros (green) and phyllon (leaves). Chlorophyll is a photoreceptor pigment that is green in colour. It’s a pigment that perceives light and helps with the biochemical process. Chlorophyll comes in a variety of forms, including chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and so on.
What is the Role of Chlorophyll in Photosynthesis?
Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis, which allows plants to absorb energy from light. Chemical energy is converted from light energy. Carbohydrates like sugars are made from carbon dioxide and water with the help of light energy. Chlorophyll is found in virtually all photosynthetic organisms, including green plants, cyanobacteria, and algae. With photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorbs energy and then changes water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and carbohydrates. A magnesium ion is wrapped in a big ring structure known as chlorine in chlorophyll A. The chlorin ring is a pyrrole-derived heterocyclic compound.
Chloroplast
The chlorophyll pigment is found in the plant cell’s chloroplasts. Chloroplasts act as a site of the photosynthesis process in both blue-green algae and plants.
Generally, On the walls of the mesophyll, the chloroplasts align along. This in result helps them to receive optimum sunlight. The chloroplast has different membranes like stroma, grana, lamellae and thylakoids. The chlorophyll pigment is enclosed in the thylakoids of the chloroplast.
Structure of Chlorophyll
- Chlorophyll is a derivative of porphyrin. A magnesium atom is included in the central chemical structure of chlorophyll.
- There are also four nitrogen atoms around the magnesium. A pyrrole ring structure with four carbons and nitrogen can be found.
- There is also a hydrocarbon end visible.
- The porphyrin head is made up of four pyrrole rings joined by nitrogen and magnesium.
- The phytol tail is the hydrocarbon end.
Difference Between Chlorophyll and Chloroplast
The following is the difference between Chlorophyll and Chloroplast:
| Chlorophyll | Chloroplast |
| Pigment in the chlorophyll imparting green color to plants | Organelle present in plant cell and site of photosynthesis |
| Five types – chlorophyll a,b,c,d,f | No Type |
| Carotenoids having yellow and red pigments, green pigment | No Pigment |
| Chlorophyll is the Pigment that carries out photosynthesis | Chloroplast is the Organelle carrying out photosynthesis |
| Chlorophyll is Found as a part of Chloroplast | Chloroplast is Found as a part of Plant cell |
| Inside chloroplast, in thylakoid membranes | All through the plant cell, leaves specifically |
| Can Be Observed in All Algae, plants, cyanobacteria | Can Be Observed in All algae and plants |
| Chlorophyll Do not have their own DNA | Chloroplasts Has their own DNA organelle known as cpDNA |
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