Assignment: Photosynthetic Pigments

i) Construct a line graph of the data with percent absorbance along the vertical axis
and wavelength along the horizontal axis. Indicate the colours of the visible spectrum
corresponding to the wavelengths along the horizontal axis. [4]

ii) What colour is a spinach leaf? What colour is absorbed the least by the pigment
extract? Why? [2]

A spinach leaf is green, this is because of the presence of chlorophyll. Green

wavelengths are the least absorbed by the pigment extract. Chlorophyll tends to reflect
green light instead of absorbing it. Thus, visualizing its green colour. Chlorophyll pigments
have a specific molecular structure which enables most light to be absorbed within the blue
and red regions, but a reflection in the green regions. The green and yellow colour are the
most visible as they are the least successful because chlorophyll gives the leaf a green
colour, enabling most of the green light to be reflected making the leaf appear dominatly
green. This allows further consensus that the green light was mostly reflected instead of
absorbed.
iii) If you were looking at an intact spinach leaf under different colour lights under
which colours would the leaf be least visible? Why? [2]

When examining a spinach leaf under various colour lights green and yellow light are
the most visible on the spinach leaf. In terms of visibility, red and blue light would apper the
most visible. This is because the red and blue light reflect less light on your eyes while green
and yellow light do the opposite. The the green and yellow lights reflect the light back to
your eyes. Red and blue light is easily absorbed whereas green and yellow are not. Thus
concluding that green and yellow light are the least visible when analyzing a spinach leaf
under different colour lights.

iv) Compare your graph to the absorption spectrum of photosynthetic pigments

(Figure 1) above. Which pigment is most likely responsible for the peak at 650nm? [1]

Based on the graph above, carotenoid would most likely be responsible for the peak
displayed at 650nm. Carotenoid displays a bright yellow pigment. A specific group of
carotenoids that display a yellow colour are called xanthophylls.

v) Which pigments are primarily responsible for absorption in the range of 400nm – to
480nm? [1]

The pigments shown throught this range are violet and blue. The pigments
responsible for absorption in the range of 400nm-480nm would be chlorophyll a as it
displays blue- green pigments. The anthocyanin are respsobible for the purple blue or red
pigments.

vi) Why are there no peaks in the range of 520nm-620nm? [1]

As displayed on the graphs there seem to be no peaks within the range of

520nm-620nm. This is because the range shown corresponds to the region of green and
yellow light which are known to be less efficient at absorbing pigments compared to the
others. Within this range, chlorophyll does not absorb green light.