IMPORTANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND OTHER PIGMENTS

1. Chlorophyll and
Other Pigments:
It’s Importance in
Photosynthesis.
11 STEM General
Biology 1

2. At the end of the lesson, the
students should be able to;
explain the importance of
chlorophyll and other pigments in
photosynthesis.
Lesson objective:

3. Pre-activity
Based from our past lessons, tell
whether the picture is abundant
with the following pigments:
•Chlorophyll a
•Chlorophyll b
•Carotenoids

4. Carotenoids

5. Chlorophyll a

6. Chlorophyll b

7. Questions:
•Why do plants have different leaf colors?
•What do you think is the importance of
these colors to the photosynthetic
processes of the plants?
•Do these colors have something to do with
the manufacture of food by the plants?

8. Chlorophyll
is one of the main pigments
needed by the plants to
manufacture their own food.
There are two major types of
chlorophyll; chlorophyll a and
chlorophyll b. Other than
chlorophyll, there is also
another pigment important
for photosynthesis.This is
known as the carotenoids.

9. Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b Carotenoids
Photosynthetic Pigments
are useful to plants and
other autotrophs --organisms
which make their own food
using photosynthesis.

10. Activity:
• Direction:
The class will be divided into three. Each group will be assigned with one
photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid).You will give
the importance of the pigment assigned to you by getting a piece of
paper from the box provided by the teacher. You will choose which
among the given importance is true about the assigned photosynthetic
pigment to your group and organize them in a manila paper.A
presentation will follow after you finish the activity.
Group 1
Chlorophyll a
Group 2
Chlorophyll b
Group 3
Carotenoids

11. Importance of photosynthetic pigments
•Pigments are colorful
chemical compounds
that reflect light of a
specific wavelength and
absorb other
wavelengths.

12. Importance of photosynthetic pigments
•Leaves, flowers, coral, and
animal skins contain
pigments that give them
color. Photosynthesis is a
process taking place in
plants and can be defined
as a conversion of light
energy to chemical energy.

13. Importance of photosynthetic pigments
•It is a process by which
green plants produce
carbohydrates from carbon
dioxide and water by the
help of chlorophyll (green
pigment in plants) in the
presence of light energy.

14. Importance of photosynthetic pigments
Chlorophyll a
• This pigment appears green in color. It
absorbs blue and red light and reflects
green light. It is the most abundant
type of pigment in leaves and thus the
most important type of pigment in
chloroplast.
• This pigment is important because it
absorbs light mostly from the orange-
red of the electromagnetic spectrum.
• This absorbs most of the light energy in
the light spectrum which makes it store
much more energy than the other two
pigments.

15. Importance of photosynthetic pigments
Chlorophyll b
•This pigment is less abundant than
chlorophyll a but has ability to absorb a
wider wavelength of light energy.
•An accessory pigment for photosynthesis.
•This pigment is important because it
absorbs blue light from the
electromagnetic spectrum.
•This pigment helps chlorophyll a to
absorb the other light energy it cannot
store on its pigment giving more energy
for the plant.

16. Importance of photosynthetic pigments
Carotenoids
•An accessory pigment for
photosynthesis.
•This pigment is important
because it absorbs violet and
blue-green light.
•This pigments absorb all the
excess light energy that are not
absorbed by the chlorophyll.

17. Summary of Importance
The chlorophyll a absorbs red light energy.
Chlorophyll b absorbs blue and other pigments
which the chlorophyll a was not able to absorb.
Carotenoids absorb all the remaining light which
the chlorophylls a and b were not able to absorb.
More pigments, more absorption of
light energy. More light energy, more
food will be manufactured through
photosynthesis.

18. We have here 3 activities about
the importance of
photosynthetic pigments. Please
choose only 1 activity which you
think is convenient to you.
Follow the instructions from the
activity you have chosen.

19. Activity 1. Label and Match
Label the diagram below by putting the following: Chlorophyll a,
Chlorophyll b, and Carotenoids and put a line to match it with the
corresponding importance on the box on the right.
a. Helps the chlorophyll a in absorbing
light to capture more energy needed
for photosynthesis.
b. Stores the most energy by
absorbing the red light from the
visible spectrum.
c. Appears to be orange in color and
helps the chlorophyll in absorbing
the excess light which the
chlorophyll was not able to absorb.

20. Activity 2. In your own words, write at least 2-3
sentences about the importance of the three pigments
discussed in order for life to be sustained on Earth.

21. Activity 3. Organize your thoughts!
Make a graphic organizer with at least 5-10 boxes
about the importance of chlorophyll a, b and
carotenoid in photosynthesis.
Has at least 5-10 boxes/ideas 5
Clear presentation of information 3
Grammatically correct 2
Total points 10

22.  Why do plants have
different leaf colors?
 What do you think is the
importance of these colors
to the photosynthetic
processes of the plants?
 Do this color have
Questions to Ponder

23. Expand and Explain.
Answer the following questions briefly.
1.Why are chlorophyll and other pigments important in
plants?
__________________________________________________
2. How are pigments related to photosynthesis in plants?
__________________________________________________
POST
TEST

24. Its art time!
Make a scrapbook of different
leaf colors which can be found
in your community. Identify
what kind of pigment is
present or abundant in each of
the leaves and explain the
reason and importance of that
pigment for the plant to
survive.
Extend
Has at least 5-10 leaves with label of
pigment 5
Clear presentation of information 3
Grammatically correct 2
Total points 10

25. References:
• Khanacademy.org. Light and photosynthetic
pigments.https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/photosynthesis-in-
plants/the-light-dependent-reactions-of-photosynthesis/a/light-and-
photosynthetic-
pigments#:~:text=Carotenoids%20are%20another%20key%20group,(see%2
0spectrum%20graph%20above)
• Berkeley.edu. Glossary.
https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss3/pigments.html
• Sciencing.com. Roles of Chlorophyll. https://sciencing.com/what-are-the-
roles-of-chlorophyll-a-b-12526386.html