In photosynthesis match the following questions: chlorophyll a is blue-green, chlorophyll b is yellow-green, xanthophyll is yellow, and carotenoids are orange-yellow. These four pigments are found in the chloroplasts of plants and are responsible for absorbing light energy for photosynthesis. Chlorophyll a is the primary photosynthetic pigment, while the others are accessory pigments.
Chlorophyll a is blue-green in colour and is the primary photosynthetic pigment.
Chlorophyll b is yellow-green and acts as an accessory pigment transferring energy to chlorophyll a.
Xanthophyll is yellow in colour and is an oxygen-containing carotenoid.
Carotenoids are orange-yellow pigments that include beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A.
Chlorophyll a absorbs red light (680 nm) and blue-violet light (430 nm) most effectively.
All four pigments are found in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.
In paper chromatography, carotenoids migrate the furthest and chlorophyll b the least.
Accessory pigments (chlorophyll b, xanthophyll, carotenoids) broaden the spectrum of light absorbed for photosynthesis.
Column A (Pigment) → Column B (Colour)
This is a standard NCERT match the following question from Class 11 Biology, Chapter 13 – Photosynthesis in Higher Plants (Table 13.1).
Chlorophyll a (Blue-green):
Chlorophyll b (Yellow-green):
Xanthophyll (Yellow):
Carotenoids (Orange-yellow):
Paper chromatography can separate the four photosynthetic pigments from a leaf extract. In ascending order of Rf values (migration distance), the bands appear as:
This experiment is part of Class 11 NCERT Biology practicals.
Chlorophyll a → Blue-green; Chlorophyll b → Yellow-green; Xanthophyll → Yellow; Carotenoids → Orange-yellow. These are the four main photosynthetic pigments found in the chloroplasts of higher plants.
Chlorophyll a is blue-green in colour and is the primary pigment involved in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll b is yellow-green in colour and acts as an accessory pigment. Both are found in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts in higher plants.
Xanthophylls are oxygen-containing carotenoids that are yellow in colour (e.g., lutein, zeaxanthin). Carotenoids (in the narrow sense) are oxygen-free pigments that are orange-yellow in colour (e.g., beta-carotene, alpha-carotene). Both are accessory pigments that protect chlorophyll and expand the range of light absorbed during photosynthesis.
Chlorophyll a is the primary photosynthetic pigment. It is directly involved in the light reactions of photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy. It absorbs light mainly in the red (680 nm) and blue-violet (430 nm) wavelength regions.
A leaf appears green because the predominant pigments, chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, absorb red and blue light but reflect green light back to our eyes. Even though xanthophylls and carotenoids are also present, chlorophylls are in greater quantity and their green reflection dominates the colour we perceive.
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