As energy passes from blue-absorbing chlorophylls down to red-absorbing chlorophylls, surprisingly, no energy passes from lower energy-absorbing pigments back to higher ones (in other words, the process is irreversible). Why might that be?

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Chapter8: Photosynthesis
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Problem 3VCQ: Figure 8.18 Which of the following statements is true? In photosynthesis, oxygen, carbon dioxide,...
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As energy passes from blue-absorbing chlorophylls down to red-absorbing chlorophylls,
surprisingly, no energy passes from lower energy-absorbing pigments back to higher
ones (in other words, the process is irreversible). Why might that be?

7. For an organism to convert enough energy to survive, it needs more than one
chlorophyll gathering light. Usually, they are spread out and around the reaction center
and act as an antenna (see figure below). The outer chlorophyll molecules absorb the
highest energy visible light. These chlorophylls pass the energy onto chlorophylls closer
to the reaction center that absorb lower energy light, and the process continues until
the energy reaches the reaction center (see figure below.)
Blue-absorbing pigments
Orange-absorbing
pigments
Red-absorbing
=chorophyll
pigments
Reaction
=reaction center
center
Figures adapted from Blankenship
Energy
Transcribed Image Text:7. For an organism to convert enough energy to survive, it needs more than one chlorophyll gathering light. Usually, they are spread out and around the reaction center and act as an antenna (see figure below). The outer chlorophyll molecules absorb the highest energy visible light. These chlorophylls pass the energy onto chlorophylls closer to the reaction center that absorb lower energy light, and the process continues until the energy reaches the reaction center (see figure below.) Blue-absorbing pigments Orange-absorbing pigments Red-absorbing =chorophyll pigments Reaction =reaction center center Figures adapted from Blankenship Energy
"Photosynthesis is a process in which light energy is captured and stored by an organism, and
the stored energy is used to drive cellular processes," (Blankenship, p. 1). Photosynthesis
doesn't just happen in green plants; it can occur in bacteria, as well. It occurs when light-
harvesting molecules absorb energy in the form of light and transfer it to a reaction center,
where light energy is converted to chemical energy. Most of us know about chlorophyll as the
light-harvesting molecule, but there are many forms of chlorophyll found in different
organisms. However, they all have similar properties when interacting with light.
PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIOMENIS
1.6
0.7
1.4
D.
0.6-
1.2
Soret
0.5
0.4
0.8
B.
H
COOCH
phytyl bacteriochlorophyll a
0.3-
0.6
0.2-
0.4
0.1
0.2
300
400
500
600
700
800
700 750 800 850 900
A (nm)
2 (nm)
Figure 4.7 Absorption (left) and fluorescence (right) spectra of bacteriochlorophyll a in diethyl ether
Absorbance
1.
Fluorescence (Arbitrary units)
Transcribed Image Text:"Photosynthesis is a process in which light energy is captured and stored by an organism, and the stored energy is used to drive cellular processes," (Blankenship, p. 1). Photosynthesis doesn't just happen in green plants; it can occur in bacteria, as well. It occurs when light- harvesting molecules absorb energy in the form of light and transfer it to a reaction center, where light energy is converted to chemical energy. Most of us know about chlorophyll as the light-harvesting molecule, but there are many forms of chlorophyll found in different organisms. However, they all have similar properties when interacting with light. PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIOMENIS 1.6 0.7 1.4 D. 0.6- 1.2 Soret 0.5 0.4 0.8 B. H COOCH phytyl bacteriochlorophyll a 0.3- 0.6 0.2- 0.4 0.1 0.2 300 400 500 600 700 800 700 750 800 850 900 A (nm) 2 (nm) Figure 4.7 Absorption (left) and fluorescence (right) spectra of bacteriochlorophyll a in diethyl ether Absorbance 1. Fluorescence (Arbitrary units)
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