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Difference between Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B
Introduction
Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B are the two most important types of chlorophyll present in plants and green algae. Both of them play a very crucial role in the process of photosynthesis. They are present in chloroplasts and try to work together with the integral membrane proteins, that are present in the thylakoid membrane. The most important difference between Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B lies in their role in the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll A plays the role of a principal pigment in photosynthesis, whereas chlorophyll B' plays the role of an accessory pigment, which collects energy to merge into chlorophyll B.
What is Chlorophyll?
The pigments responsible for the appearance of the colour green in plants are known as chlorophyll pigments. Chlorophyll' is hugely responsible for the transformation of sunlight into chemical energy, and the process is known as 'photosynthesis. Chlorophyll functions mainly by absorbing sunlight and the energy obtained from it is used in converting carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. Chlorophyll can be divided into various forms like chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, chlorophyll C, but the most important out of them are Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B due to their presence in higher plants and green algae.
Chlorophyll pigments are present in all the green-coloured parts of a plant and are systematically situated in the chloroplasts present in every cell, within thylakoids that are disk-shaped units. The thylakoids possess the photosystem, within which the photosynthetic pigments are present, that plays a very important role in the whole photosynthesis process.
Chlorophyll A: Overview
Chlorophyll A is considered to be the most important form of Chlorophyll present in a plant. It is responsible for the production and providing the major form of energy required in the process of photosynthesis by absorbing sunlight. It is found in all forms of higher plants, green algae and cyanobacteria. Chlorophyll A is most effective at absorbing sunlight as the wavelengths of its spectrum are 429 nm and 659 nm. The molecular formula of Chlorophyll A is C55H72O5N4Mg. It is considered to be the primary pigment responsible for the harvesting of light.
Chlorophyll B: Overview
Chlorophyll B is mainly responsible for absorbing of sunlight and then passing it onto Chlorophyll A to process it. Its role is that of an accessory that's why it is often called an accessory pigment. It is not omnipresent and also restricted to green algae and plants. The wavelengths of its light absorbing spectrums are 450 mm to 660 mm. it functions in the reflection of yellow-green colour light. Chlorophyll B has an aldehyde group attached to the chlorine ring in the third position in its structure.
Difference between Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B
The differences between chlorophyll A and chlorophyll B are discussed below.
Chlorophyll A |
Chlorophyll B |
|---|---|
Chlorophyll A is taken to be the most influential pigment necessary for the process of photosynthesis. Thus, it is often referred to as the principal pigment. |
Chlorophyll b plays the role of an additional pigment in the process of photosynthesis. Thus, it is often referred to as an accessory pigment. |
Chlorophyll A is majorly found in all plants, algae, cyanobacteria,phototrophs, and bacteria. |
Chlorophyll B on the other hand is restricted in its presence in onlygreen algae and plants. |
The major function of chlorophyll A lies in its role of capturing sunlight necessary for the plant and then storing it conveniently. |
Chlorophyll B functions as an accessory pigment only, as its only function is capturing sunlight and providing it to chlorophyll A. |
The range of absorbing sunlight by chlorophyll A is around 430 mm to 660 mm. |
The range of absorbing sunlight by chlorophyll B deviates between 450 mm to 660 mm. |
Its structure is restricted to a chlorine ring of chlorophyll with an additional methyl group attached to it in the third position. |
Chlorophyll B on the hand almost has the same structure except it has an aldehyde attached to the chlorine ring in the third position. |
Chlorophyll A soaks up violet-blue and orange-red colour from the spectral plane. It reflects and leads to the emission of blue-green colour. |
Chlorophyll B on the other hand is only restricted to the absorption of orange-red light. It leads only to the reflection of a yellow-green colour. |
Summary
The major difference between chlorophyll A and chlorophyll B is in their functions and role in the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll A plays a more digressive role in the photosynthesis of plants as it plays the primary part in absorbing sunlight and converting it into the necessary amount of energy required for the whole photosynthesis process. Chlorophyll B, on the other hand, plays the accessory role of sending the absorbed sunlight to Chlorophyll A. It has no direct output towards the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll A leads to the absorption of violet-blue and orange-red colour from the spectral plane, unlike Chlorophyll B which is only restricted to the absorption of orange-red light. The former one transforms this colour and emits it in a blue-green colour’ form, whereas the latter reflects a yellow-green colour.
FAQs
Qns 1. What is liquid Chlorophyll and why it is necessary?
Ans. Liquid chlorophyll is a supplement of chlorophyll in its liquid form. It can be converted in the human digestive system while taking wheatgrass in its juice form. Liquid chlorophyll is highly necessary for cancer prevention and immuning the human body as a whole.
Qns 2. What are the three things that help in the formation of chloroplasts?
Ans. Chloroplast is made up of three membrane systems namely the outer membrane, the inner membrane, and the thylakoid system. Thylakoids are disk-shaped units; it helps in the collection of photon from any source of light.
Qns 3. What are the solubility properties of chlorophyll?
Ans. The green-coloured Chlorophyll is a wax-like compound. It cannot dissolve in water but is perfectly soluble in alcohol.
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