Difference between Chlorophyll and Carotenoids

Introduction

The pigment is a colourful chemical substance that reflects a specific visible light wavelength. A particular pigment absorbs a specific visible light wavelength and reflects a different visible light to the naked eye wavelength. Several objects, including flowers, paintings, fruits, leaves, corals, etc., all have their distinctive colours because of certain pigments.

Carotenoids and chlorophyll are two chromophores, or pigments, essential for photosynthesis. Both carotenoids and chlorophyll play a role in light harvesting, photon absorption, and excitation energy transmission to the photosynthetic reaction centre.

However, only chlorophyll performs charge separation across the cell membrane inside the reaction centre. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is converted to carbohydrates due to a sequence of electron transfer events initiated by chlorophyll.

Table of Contents

• Chlorophyll
• Carotenoids
• Difference between Chlorophyll and Carotenoids
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Chlorophyll

The group of green pigments known as chlorophyll is found in plants and other photosynthetic species. Chlorophylls are the primary pigments found in plants, algae, and other photosynthetic creatures. These pigments can produce carbohydrates by absorbing light energy from the sun. Generally, this family includes a variety of chlorophyll pigments, including chlorophyll a, b, c, and d.

Chlorophyll a and b are the most prominent pigments primarily involved in photosynthesis among the several forms of chlorophyll pigments. Chlorophylls reflect green light while absorbing blue and yellow light wavelengths from electromagnetic radiation. They reflect a green colour, making them visible to us.

In terms of structure, the magnesium ion is surrounded by a porphyrin ring of chlorophyll made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen molecules.

Also, Read:Chlorophyll Structure

Carotenoids

Plants produce carotenoids, a class of accessory pigment, to absorb light energy and convert it to chemical energy. Xanthophylls and carotenes are two different forms of carotenoids that only differ in their oxygen content. Xanthophylls are the yellow colour pigments, while carotenes are the orange to yellow pigments. Carrots typically have their colour because of the beta carotenes they contain. On the other hand, lycopene, another carotenoid pigment, gives tomatoes their distinctive colour.

Carotenoids also serve as supplementary pigments in organisms that synthesise light. Although carotenoids cannot directly transfer absorbed light into the photosynthetic pathway, they can transfer their light to chlorophylls, which helps with photosynthesis. As a result, they can be found in cyanobacteria as well as chloroplasts.

Like other antioxidants, carotenoids have some cancer-preventive properties. The body produces vital vitamins from these carotenoids. Moreover, animal compounds like cholesterol and other hormones required for controlling metabolism are derived from carotenoids.

Also, Read:Biological Pigments in Plants

Difference between Chlorophyll and Carotenoids

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Related Links:

• What Is Chlorophyll and Where is it Located in a Plant?
• Chlorophyll: Structure, Function and FAQs
• Differences between Chlorophyll a and Chlorophyll b
• Difference between Chlorophyll and Chloroplast
• Difference between Lycopene and Beta Carotene

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