Why is the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll a not identical to the action spectrum of photosynthesis?
A) Accessory pigments contribute energy to drive photosynthesis.
B) Chlorophyll a absorbs both red and blue light.
C) Chlorophyll a reflects green light.
D) Different wavelengths of light have different energies.
E) Chlorophyll a can be activated by absorbing a photon of light.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Accessory pigments such as chlorophyll b and carotenoids also absorb light and transfer energy to chlorophyll a, which drives photosynthesis. Therefore, the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll a alone does not fully account for all the wavelengths of light that are utilized in photosynthesis, resulting in a mismatch between the two spectra.

Why Is the Absorption Spectrum of Chlorophyll a Not Identical