Chlorophyll and Other Plant Pigments

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in the chloroplasts of green plant cells.
The primary role of chlorophyll is to absorb light energy for photosynthesis. It is particularly good at absorbing light from the blue and red parts of the spectrum, but reflects green light, which is why plants appear green.
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, algae and some bacteria use light energy (usually from the sun), along with water and carbon dioxide, to produce glucose and oxygen.
There are different types of chlorophyll, including chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b. These have slightly different structures and absorb light of slightly different wavelengths, which helps to increase the range of light that a plant can use for photosynthesis.
Plants also contain other pigments, which are often hidden by chlorophyll, but can become visible in conditions where chlorophyll breaks down, such as in autumn leaves.
Some of these other pigments include carotenes and anthocyanins. Carotenes are orange or yellow pigments, which enhance the absorption of light by capturing wavelengths not absorbed effectively by chlorophyll. Anthocyanins are red, purple or blue pigments.
Xanthophylls are another group of plant pigments. They, like carotenes, can absorb light energy and pass it on to chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
These pigments can perform some of the tasks of chlorophyll, can give plants their different colors, and can protect the plant from damage by excess light.
Pigments such as chlorophyll are important in the long-distance transport of chemicals in plants, as they help to generate the energy needed to move these chemicals around.
The pigments are also involved in controlling the rate of transpiration - the loss of water from the plant - which influences how nutrients are transported throughout the plant.
A lack of certain pigments can lead to issues with photosynthesis and therefore affect the overall health and growth of a plant.

Remember, clarifying questions, practice and regular revision are effective strategies to grasp these concepts firmly.