Question

Which chlorophyll molecule does not have a phytol tail?

• A. Chlorophyll a
• B. Chlorophyll b
• C. Chlorophyll c
• D. Chlorophyll d

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Chlorophyll c

Chlorophyll is the green molecule in plant cells that carries out the bulk of energy fixation in the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll itself is actually not a single molecule but a family of related molecules, designated chlorophyll a, b, c, and d. Chlorophyll a is the molecule found in all plant cells. Chlorophyll d is found only in marine red algae, but chlorophylls b and c are common in freshwater. The molecular structure of chlorophylls a, b and d consists of a ring-like structure called a porphyrin and a long organic phytol "tail". In the center of the porphyrin ring is a magnesium molecule. Chlorophyll c lacks the phytol chain.

So, the correct answer is option C.