Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. What is the color of the following plant pigments? Which wavelengths do they absorb?
Pigment Color Wavelengths (colors) absorbed
Chlorophyll A green Blue and red
Chlorophyll B green Blue and yellow
Carotene Red, orange, Red, orange, yellow
yellow
Xanthophyll yellow Blue
Anthocyanin red Blue green
2. Explain how the wavelengths absorbed and reflected determine the color of a pigment.
The colors we see result from the reflected wavelengths, while the absorbed wavelengths are
not visible to the eye.
3. Take a look at the overall reaction for photosynthesis and suggest two ways that the rate
of photosynthesis could be measured (Hint: Consider how the substrates and products
will change throughout the course of the reaction.)
The rate of photosynthesis could be measured by the amount of light being used and the
oxygen production.
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
4. Many deciduous trees have leaves that turn yellow in the fall. What is happening in the
leaves at the cellular and molecular level that is responsible for this color change?
It is mainly due to a decrease in chlorophyll production within the leaf cells.
5. Chloroplasts are the organelles in plant cells that convert solar energy to chemical
energy (sugars) that can be used by the cell. Mitochondria are organelles in all
eukaryotic cells that convert sugars to ATP Both organelles are have double membranes
and contain their own set of DNA. What is the likely explanation for this?
, Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
They are both believed to have originated from ancient prokaryotic cells that were engulfed by
early eukaryotic cells.
EXERCISE 1: HARMFUL AGAL BLOOMS
Post-Lab Questions
1. Create graph displaying the trend of nitrogen, phosphorous, and chlorophyll A for each
year of recorded data. Insert the graphs for all three data tables here.
PRE-LAB QUESTIONS
1. What is the color of the following plant pigments? Which wavelengths do they absorb?
Pigment Color Wavelengths (colors) absorbed
Chlorophyll A green Blue and red
Chlorophyll B green Blue and yellow
Carotene Red, orange, Red, orange, yellow
yellow
Xanthophyll yellow Blue
Anthocyanin red Blue green
2. Explain how the wavelengths absorbed and reflected determine the color of a pigment.
The colors we see result from the reflected wavelengths, while the absorbed wavelengths are
not visible to the eye.
3. Take a look at the overall reaction for photosynthesis and suggest two ways that the rate
of photosynthesis could be measured (Hint: Consider how the substrates and products
will change throughout the course of the reaction.)
The rate of photosynthesis could be measured by the amount of light being used and the
oxygen production.
6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2
4. Many deciduous trees have leaves that turn yellow in the fall. What is happening in the
leaves at the cellular and molecular level that is responsible for this color change?
It is mainly due to a decrease in chlorophyll production within the leaf cells.
5. Chloroplasts are the organelles in plant cells that convert solar energy to chemical
energy (sugars) that can be used by the cell. Mitochondria are organelles in all
eukaryotic cells that convert sugars to ATP Both organelles are have double membranes
and contain their own set of DNA. What is the likely explanation for this?
, Plant Pigments and Photosynthesis
They are both believed to have originated from ancient prokaryotic cells that were engulfed by
early eukaryotic cells.
EXERCISE 1: HARMFUL AGAL BLOOMS
Post-Lab Questions
1. Create graph displaying the trend of nitrogen, phosphorous, and chlorophyll A for each
year of recorded data. Insert the graphs for all three data tables here.
