Absorption of Light by

Chlorophyll
Higher Biology

Light absorption by
chlorophyll

Measuring light absorption

A spectrometer is used to measure
the amount of absorption at each
wavelength
An action spectrum shows the rate of
photosynthesis at different light
intensities

Chlorophyll A and B
absorb light mostly in
the red and blue
regions of the
spectrum
Carotene and
xanthophyll absorb
light from other
regions and pass the
energy to chlorophyll

Brown seaweeds
subjected to low light intensities
Chlorophyll C instead of chlorophyll B
fucoxanthin
-very wide absorption spectrum
-absorbs light in parts of the
spectrum where chlorophyll is less
efficient

Red seaweeds
Have chlorophyll D
Phycoerythrin

Green seaweeds
Found in shallow
water
Do not have
fucoxanthin
Does not have
phycoerythrin

This powerpoint was kindly donated to

www.worldofteaching.com

http://www.worldofteaching.com is home to over a

thousand powerpoints submitted by teachers. This is a
completely free site and requires no registration. Please
visit and I hope it will help in your teaching.