Question

In molecule of chlorophyll, there is

• A. Head of 4 pyrrole rings and tail of linked nitrogens
• B. Head of 4 pyrrole rings and tail of alcoholic phytol chain
• C. Head of phytol and tail of 6 pyrroles
• D. Absence of porphyrins

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Head of 4 pyrrole rings and tail of alcoholic phytol chain

In molecule of chlorophyll there is head of 4 pyrrole rings and tail of alcoholic phytol chain. Chlorophyll is a chlorine pigment, which is structurally similar to and produced through the same metabolic pathway as other porphyrin pigments such as heme. At the center of the chlorine ring there is a magnesium ion. This was discovered in 1906, and was the first time that magnesium had been detected in living tissue. The chlorin ring can have several different side chains, usually including a long phytol chain.