AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The different pigments in the plants allows them to absorb the light of different wavelengths, this helps them to capture more light energy for photosynthesis. The different pigments impart different colors to the leaves, which promote sunlight absorption in accordance with the color of the leaf.

Detailed explanation-2: -Answer 1: Pigment molecules, just like any other molecule, have electrons that can “occupy” different energy levels. It turns out that in pigment molecules, the differences between certain energy levels correspond to the energies associated with specific wavelengths of visible light.

Detailed explanation-3: -Because they interact with light to absorb only certain wavelengths, pigments are useful to plants and other autotrophs–organisms which make their own food using photosynthesis. In plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, pigments are the means by which the energy of sunlight is captured for photosynthesis.

Detailed explanation-4: -Most photosynthetic organisms have a variety of different pigments, so they can absorb energy from a wide range of wavelengths.

Detailed explanation-5: -Plant pigments are important in controlling photosynthesis, growth and development of plants (Sudhakar et al., 2016). Pigments act as visible signals to attract insects, birds and animals for pollination and seed dispersal. Pigments also protect plants from damage caused by UV and visible light (Tanaka et al., 2008).