What is the Difference Between Chlorophyll A and B?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Chlorophyll A and B are two major types of chlorophyll found in plants and green algae, playing crucial roles in the process of photosynthesis. The main differences between Chlorophyll A and B are:
- Primary vs. Accessory Pigment: Chlorophyll A is the primary photosynthetic pigment, while Chlorophyll B is an accessory pigment. Chlorophyll A absorbs light energy, while Chlorophyll B collects the energy to pass it on to Chlorophyll A.
- Absorption Spectrum: Chlorophyll A absorbs light in the range of 430 nm to 660 nm (violet-blue and orange-red light), with the most effective absorption at 430 nm and 662 nm. Chlorophyll B absorbs light in the range of 450 nm to 650 nm, with the most effective absorption at 470 nm.
- Reflection: Chlorophyll A reflects blue-green light, while Chlorophyll B reflects yellow-green light.
- Presence: Chlorophyll A is present in all photosynthetic organisms on Earth, including plants, algae, bacteria, cyanobacteria, and phototrophs. Chlorophyll B is present only in green algae and plants.
- Structure: In the porphyrin ring of Chlorophyll A, side groups of CH3 are present, while in Chlorophyll B, a CHO group is present other than CH3.
- Photosystem: Chlorophyll A is the reaction center of the antenna array of core proteins in Photosystems I and II, while Chlorophyll B regulates the size of the antenna.
In summary, Chlorophyll A is the primary pigment responsible for photosynthesis, while Chlorophyll B is an accessory pigment that helps collect energy and pass it on to Chlorophyll A. They have different absorption and reflection spectra, and Chlorophyll A plays a more central role in the photosystems involved in photosynthesis.
Comparative Table: Chlorophyll A vs B
Here is a table comparing the differences between chlorophyll A and B:
Characteristic | Chlorophyll A | Chlorophyll B |
---|---|---|
Definition | Primary photosynthetic pigment; reaction center | Accessory photosynthetic pigment |
Absorption Spectrum | Absorbs violet-blue and orange-red lights, ranging from 430 nm to 660 nm | Absorbs violet-blue and orange-red light, ranging from 450 nm to 650 nm |
Occurrence | Found in all green plants, algae, bacteria, cyanobacteria, etc. | Found in green plants and algae |
Reflection | Produces a bluish-green color | Produces a yellowish-green color |
Photosystem | Found in the reaction center of photosystems | Regulates the size of the antenna of the photosystem |
Chemical Formula | C55H72MgN4O5 | C55H70MgN4O6 |
Molecular Weight | 839.51 g/mol | 907.49 g/mol |
Structural Difference | Contains methyl group in the third position of its chlorine ring | Contains an aldehyde group in the third position of its chlorine ring |
Both chlorophyll A and B play crucial roles in the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll A is the primary pigment responsible for photosynthesis, while chlorophyll B is an accessory pigment that absorbs sunlight and passes it on to chlorophyll A.
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