The Basics of Photosynthesis and Light
Ever wondered how plants eat? They capture sunlight using special molecules called pigments. Photosynthesis is the process where organisms use light energy to turn simple inorganic molecules into complex organic molecules (chemical energy).
Light travels in waves, with each wavelength carrying different amounts of energy. The entire electromagnetic spectrum includes all types of light, but plants mainly use the visible light spectrum (ROYGBIV). Violet light packs the most energy, while red has the least.
Chlorophyll a is the main pigment in plants, giving them their green color because it absorbs violet and red light but reflects green. Plants also use accessory pigments like lycopene (red in tomatoes), beta-carotene (orange in carrots), and lutein (yellow in squash) to capture different wavelengths of light.
Fun Fact: When pigment molecules absorb light, their electrons get excited and jump to higher energy levels - it's like the electrons are getting a boost of caffeine that the plant can then use for energy!
The powerhouses behind photosynthesis are chloroplasts, specialized organelles in plant cells. Inside chloroplasts, you'll find the stroma (a semifluid matrix where sugars are built) and thylakoids green,pancake−shapedstructureswherelightisinitiallycaptured.