Chlorophyll Definition
Chlorophyll is commonly known as the most important element in plants that enables the process of photosynthesis. It is a pigment which facilitates photosynthesis and gives plants their green color. Chlorophyll was discovered by Joseph Bienaimé Caventou and Pierre Joseph Pelletier in 1817. The word Chlorophyll has its roots in the Greek language where 'chloro' means green and 'phyll' means plants.
Chlorophyll allows plants to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose in the presence of available sunlight. This process results in production of energy which is vital for the survival and growth of a plant. There are 6 known types of chlorophyll pigments including Chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, Chlorophyll c1, Chlorophyll c2, Chlorophyll d and Chlorophyll f. Every type is differentiated on the basis of factors such as molecular structure, natural occurrence and so on.
Chlorophyll absorbs large amounts of blue and red color from the spectrum of light radiated by the sun. It does not absorb green light because of which it gets reflected. This is the reason that plants appear green in color. This is the also the reason that plants and trees lose their green color in seasons like winter and autumn. During these periods, the amount of chlorophyll in plants goes down and other elements go up, leading to a color change. Just like the digestive system in humans is essential to produce energy for daily functions, Chlorophyll in plants is a critical element that helps them to survive.