Which of the following pigments resemble the action spectrum...

Which of the following pigments resemble the action spectrum produced on the basis of Engelmann experiment?
A. Chlorophyll a
B. Chlorophyll b
C. Xanthophyll
D. Carotenoids
(a) $\mathrm{A}$ and $\mathrm{C}$ only
(b) A and B only
(c) Only A
(d) $\mathrm{C}$ and $\mathrm{D}$ only

Key Concepts

Photosynthetic Pigments

Photosynthetic pigments are molecules that capture light energy to drive the conversion of light energy into chemical energy during photosynthesis. They include a range of molecules such as chlorophylls, carotenoids, and xanthophylls, each having specific absorption properties that allow plants to use different parts of the light spectrum efficiently.

Action Spectrum

An action spectrum represents the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths of light in driving a specific biological process, like photosynthesis. It correlates the wavelengths of light with the rate of photosynthetic activity, highlighting which wavelengths are most efficiently captured by the plant’s pigments.

Chlorophyll a

Chlorophyll a is the primary pigment involved in photosynthesis and is capable of directly converting light energy into chemical energy. It has strong absorption peaks in the blue and red regions of the light spectrum, which closely match the wavelengths most effective in driving photosynthetic reactions as observed in action spectra.

Chlorophyll b

Chlorophyll b is an accessory pigment that expands the range of light wavelengths a plant can utilize by absorbing light in regions that chlorophyll a absorbs less efficiently. It transfers the captured energy to chlorophyll a, thereby supporting and enhancing the overall process of photosynthesis.

Engelmann Experiment

The Engelmann experiment demonstrated the link between light wavelength and photosynthetic activity by exposing filamentous algae to a spectrum of light and observing zones of oxygen production. This experiment established that the effectiveness of different wavelengths correlated with the absorption properties of photosynthetic pigments, particularly chlorophyll a and b.

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