Biology – Chapter 22 Photosynthesis – Light absorbed by chlorophyll

Name: ( ) Class: _ Date: _

Fig. 1 shows an experimental set- up used to investigate the colors of light absorbed by the chlorophyll
extract collected from spinach. The light source used is white light. Fig. 2 shows the results:

Fig. 1 Fig. 2
(a) Devise a method to obtain the chlorophyll extract. (2 marks)

Wash leaves and blot dry. Cut the leaves into small segments and put them into mortar and
pestle. Grind the tissue in the extraction solvent with a pestle to extract the pigment

(b) (i) Which colour(s) of light is/ are absorbed most? (1 mark)
Red and blue

(ii) Which colour(s) of light is/ are absorbed least? (1 mark)

Green

(c) Explain briefly why the leaves of plants are usually green in colour. (3 marks)
The leaves of plants usually appear green because the leave will absorb red and blue light from sunlight while reflect the green light, the green light enters our eyes and
makes the leaves appear green. (Leaves contain chlorophyll which does not absorb green light for photosynthesis. As the green light is reflected, it appears to be green.)

(d) Why is spinach leaf more suitable than other leaves for this experiment? (1 mark)
Spinach leaf has a lot of chlorophylls

(e) A man placed pots of plants inside a house with windows made of green glass.
After two weeks, he found that leaves turned yellow and the shoots became weak and slender.
Explain briefly. (3 marks)
When the windows are made of green glass, only green colour can enter the
house and shine on the leaves. However, chlorophyll does not absorb green light (for
photosynthesis), and needs other colour of lights to carry out photosynthesis, only small
amount of carbohydrates is produced for supporting metabolic activities. Plant cannot
grow well without sufficient amount of food