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Chlorophyll is a complex biomolecule containing magnesium. The molecule contains special ring shaped structures that capture preferred wavelengths of light. Green is not "captured" so it is reflected back to our eye. I do know that plants may contain modified chlorophyll and

other pigments to take advantage of the type of light available to them. One example are sea plants where only certain wavelengths of light may reach specific depths and the plants have evolved to capture this light for energy.

"We can also look at this from another angle. Why does chlorophyll reflect

("throw away") green light, which is the most abundant color in sunlight, and

utilize instead the weaker reds and blue? Scientists theorize that it may have

been because competing organisms were absorbing much of the green wavelengths

billions of years ago, so algae (the earliest plants) reflected the green away

and instead absorbed the red and blue hues that remained.

Early in Earth's history, the oceans were dominated by archaea, bacteria-like

organisms that are often purple in color, due to a pigment used to create energy

from the sun in a process analogous to photosynthesis (but completely differently

at the chemical level). As algae came along, they would have found a beneficial

niche by utilizing the unused red and blue wavelengths (and reflecting the green).

If you compare the absorption spectra of chlorophyll (plants) and retinal (the

pigment in archaea), they are mirrors of each other, which supports this theory.

Why archaea never evolved into complex organisms like algae did into plants and

trees is not known (to me, at least), but another roll of the evolutionary dice

might have led to large, purple archaea-trees that could outcompete plants (since

plants use only the weaker red/blue wavelengths). Today, archaea ancestors remain

as microorganisms that tend to inhabit extreme environments (geysers, salt ponds,

etc.) where their purple (and red) colors can still be seen.

For more info, see:

"Extreme Microbes", S. DasSarma"

by Paul Bridges

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14y ago
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6mo ago

Chlorophyll reflects green light while absorbing other colors for photosynthesis, giving plants their green color. The pigment's molecular structure results in this selective light absorption and reflection, contributing to the appearance of green leaves.

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13y ago

The expression of a colour of an object is the wavelength of light that is refected by the object. For example red objects reflect light in the red spectrum of visible light (and absorb the others) - thus we see the object as red.

The same is true plants (and chlorophyll). Green light is refelcted so we see plants as green - where as the red and blue portions of the visible light spectrum are absorbed and used in photosynthesis.

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16y ago

Chlorophyll is green because the wave length of light that appears green is the only wavelength that chlorophyll does not absorb. Therefore it is reflected back and is the color we see.

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12y ago

The chlorophyll really isn't green. Its reflection of the sun seems green to us.

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12y ago

Because chlorophyll is a green colouring pigmen that contains starch and chlorophyll is present in the leaves of plant.

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10y ago

Chlorophyll make chloroplasts green.They are stored in chloroplasts.

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12y ago

Because chlorophyll reflects green light making the plant appear green. Plants are able to use red and blue light best.

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11y ago

it absorbs green wavelengths of light

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13y ago

Because chlorophyll is green.

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Q: Why does chlorophyll make plant leaves appear green?
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Related questions

Why do some plant leaves appear green?

due to the photosynthetic pigment chlorophyll


How do plants get there green color from what chemical?

Plant leaves contain chlorophyll in its chloroplasts in mesophyll cells which make plant leaves green. Chlorophyll helps in photosynthesis by absorbing solar radiation for photolysis of water molecules.


What is the substance that makes croton's leaves red?

croton plant have chlorophyll,but they appear dark red.This is because of the presence of a red substance that hides the green chlorophyll.


What makes a plant appear green?

Plants appear green due to the presence of chlorophyll, a pigment responsible for absorbing sunlight during photosynthesis. Chlorophyll reflects green light, giving plants their characteristic green color.


Do ferns contain chlorophyll-?

Chlorophyll makes the leaves in the plant green, since a fern is green, and has leaves, it contains chlorophyll. yes. all plants contain chlorophyll. it is found in the chloroplast of a plant cell, and is a pigment that reflects the color green.


Do leaves get there colour from a green pigment called chloride?

Leaves get their green color from a pigment called chlorophyll, not chloride. Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy. As the seasons change and chlorophyll breaks down, other pigments such as carotenoids and anthocyanins can give leaves their autumn colors.


What is the green dye present in most leaves of a plant?

=== Chlorophyll === It is not simply a dye to make the leaves green. Chlorophyll is the substance which allows the plant to feed itself.


What Does chlorophyll not absorb?

Chlorophyll does not absorb the color green. For this reason, the leaves of many plants appear green, as most other colours of light are absorbed (and therefore, are not reflected, and cannot be seen). When a plant dies, its leaves usually change colour, as the chlorophyll is no longer absorbing light.


Why are plant leafs green but roots are not?

The roots of a plant aren't green because there is no chlorophyll in the roots. All of the chlorophyll in the chloroplasts are taken to the leaves of a plant. <3


What is the name of the green pigment in a leaf?

The green pigment in a leaf is called chlorophyll. It is responsible for absorbing sunlight to facilitate the process of photosynthesis in plants.


Why does the green in leaves vanish?

In the fall when the plant stops making chlorophyll.


What is the job of chlorophyll in a plant cell?

Chlorophyll absorbs light energy for photosynthesis. it's in Chloroplast and is what makes the leaves of the plant green.