Plant Pigments

Rebus Puzzles Half Hearted Split Personality Moral Support

Plant Pigments Target: I will be able to explain why leaves turn color and drop off in the fall. Light travels in waves. Each wavelength has a different color in the visible spectrum. Pg. 51

Pigment: any substance that absorbs light. The pigments in leaves absorb the energy from the sunlight and convert it to chemical energy in sugar. All leaves have three different types of pigments: 1. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light (reflects green)

2. Carotene and xanthophylls absorb blue and green light (reflect yellow/orange) 3. Anthocyanins absorb blue and green light (reflect red/brown).

In the summer all of the pigments are present in the leaves, but the green pigment (chlorophyll) hides the others. In the Fall/Winter, the chlorophyll stops being made by the plant and the other colors (which are there already) can be seen. Summary:

All about pigments Draw a picture of a leaf changing color in the fall Then Answer the following questions: Why do leaves look green to us? Why do leaves change color in the fall? *Use a minimum of 4 colors, and Answer in complete sentences and use good grammar. Pg. 50