Question

Which of the following techniques could be used to know about the pigments present in a leaf?

• A. Electrophoresis
• B. Radioisotope technique
• C. Paper chromatography
• D. Microscopy

Answer 1

The correct option is C Paper chromatography

Paper chromatography is a method used to separate coloured substances from a mixed constituents. It can be used to separate out the leaf pigments of any green plant. Chromatographic separation of the leaf pigments shows that the colour in leaves can primarily be credited to the presence of four pigments namely chlorophyll a (bright or blue-green in colour), chlorophyll b (yellow-green in colour), xanthophylls (yellow in colour), and carotenoids
(yellow to yellow-orange in colour).

Electrophoresis is a technique that uses an electric field to separate out constituents of a substance on the basis of the charge they carry.

The radioisotope technique is generally used to study a process by replacing one of the major atoms or molecules with its own radioactive isotopic form.

Microscopy is a simple technique that allows us to zoom into a tissue or cell up to the level of organelles and further.