![]() ![]() When we excite the electrons of the chlorophyll molecules with the black light (ultraviolet light), in the absence of the electron transport chain the electrons release their energy in the form of red light as they return to their ground state. In this demonstration, we remove chlorophyll from the chloroplasts of plant cells and place it in a solution of ethanol. Thus the light energy is trapped in a chemical form. These high-energy electrons that do the work of photosynthesis pass on to carrier molecules such as NADP+ to form NADPH in the electron transport chain. This raises the electrons to higher energy levels. When chlorophyll absorbs energy in the form of light, most of that energy transfers directly to the electrons in the chlorophyll molecule. Green light is instead reflected, which is why chlorophyll, and the leaves of plants where it is found, appear green. Chlorophyll absorbs light very well in the red and blue-violet regions of the visible spectrum, but it does not absorb green light very well. ![]() The plants use this energy to power the synthesis of organic molecules.Ĭhlorophyll is the green pigment in the chloroplasts of most plants. Photosynthetic plants gather energy from sunlight through the use of light-absorbing pigments. Sunlight is white light that is actually a mixture of different wavelengths of light from the visible light spectrum. “Scare” your students by exciting the electrons of chlorophyll molecules with black light, causing the molecules to release their energy in the form of “bloody” red light in a darkened classroom.
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