Chlorophyll A vs B: Difference and Comparison

Plants are living creatures that depend on themselves for food. The process that they use for creating their food is known as photosynthesis. This process requires a pigment called chlorophyll.

Both play significant roles in photosynthesis as they help absorb sunlight needed to produce carbohydrates.

Key Takeaways

  1. Chlorophyll a is the primary pigment in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, capturing light energy during photosynthesis.
  2. Chlorophyll b is an accessory pigment, assisting chlorophyll in capturing light energy by broadening the absorption wavelength spectrum.
  3. Although both pigments play a role in photosynthesis, chlorophyll a is essential, while chlorophyll b supports its efficiency.

Chlorophyll A vs B

Chlorophyll a light absorbing, photosynthetic, primary pigment of chlorophyll. All plants algae, bacteria, cyanobacteria, and phototrophs contain chlorophyll a. Chlorophyll b a secondary pigment of chlorophyll. Possesses high absorption rate. It occurs in plants and green algae. It has low absorption rate.

Chlorophyll a vs B

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Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonChlorophyll AChlorophyll B
DefinitionChlorophyll A is the prime pigment used in photosynthesis. It captures sunlight.Chlorophyll B is the additional pigment used in photosynthesis. It collects sunlight and passes it to chlorophyll A.
Range of absorption430 mm to 660 mm.450 mm to 650 mm.
Colour of absorptionThis absorbs orange-red and blue-violet light.This absorbs orange-red light.
Reflecting colourChlorophyll A reflects a blue-green colour.Chlorophyll B reflects a yellow-green color.
Absorbing wavelengthIt absorbs wavelengths 430 nm and 662 nm.It absorbs wavelength 470 nm.
StructureChlorophyll A contains a methyl group.Chlorophyll B contains an aldehyde group.
Molecular Weight839.51 g/mol907.49 g/mol.
Chemical FormulaC55H72MgN4O5C55H70MgN4O6
Found inIt is found in algae, plants, and cyanobacteria.It is found in algae and plants.
Quantityยพ of total chlorophyll.ยผ of total chlorophyll.
Solubility in polar solventsLowHigh

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What is Chlorophyll A?

Chlorophyll A refers to the green pigment which helps absorb light and provide energy in photosynthesis. It is present in algae, cyanobacteria, and all plants.

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Science Quiz

Test your knowledge about topics related to science

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An atom is considered to be ____________ when the number of protons and electrons are equal.

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Potassium Permanganate is used for purifying drinking water, because

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Acid turns blue litmus paper into which color?

4 / 10

Which of the gas is not known as green house gas?

5 / 10

Where does photosynthesis take place?

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The substances that enter a chemical reaction are called __________.

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Name the metal which is most ductile?

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Which is the type of food having maximum energy?

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Washing soda is the common name for

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A bond that occurs between nonmetals and nonmetals is called a/an _________.

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Chlorophyll A is an essential pigment for plants as it plays an important role in photosynthesis. It helps in the electron transport chain during photosynthesis.

It also transfers light energy from the antenna to the photosystems P680 and P700. Here chlorophylls are found in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast.

The wavelengths responsible for violetยญ-blue and orange-ยญred colours are 429 nm and 659 nm, respectively.

It reflects blueยญgreen colour, which brings out the green colour in most plants.

Chlorophyll A has a chlorine ring. Here a magnesium ion is surrounded by four nitrogen atoms. It also consists of some side chains and hydrocarbon tails.

Hence, we can say that the basic role of Chlorophyll A is to absorb light from the orange-red and violet-blue colours of the spectrum and transfer this energy to the reaction center.

chlorophyll a
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What is Chlorophyll B?

Chlorophyll B is a green pigment that helps in photosynthesis by collecting light energy and then passing it to chlorophyll A. It is present in plants and green algae.

The wavelengths responsible for violetยญ and red colours are 455 nm and 642 nm, respectively.

It reflects a yellow-ยญgreen colour. Chlorophyll B is present in most land plantsโ€™ light-trapping antenna in photosystem P680.

Hence, we can say that the main role of Chlorophyll B is to increase the absorption spectrum of organisms. This helps them to absorb more energy and helps organisms to convert more energy from the sun into chemical energy.

chlorophyll b

Main Differences Between Chlorophyll A and B

  1. ยพ of the total chlorophyll in plants constitutes Chlorophyll A. ยผ of the total chlorophyll in plants constitutes Chlorophyll B.
  2. Chlorophyll A is there in the reaction centre of the antenna array. Chlorophyll B controls the size of the antenna.
Difference Between X and Y 2023 04 16T171940.913

References
  1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034425798000467
  2. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ja00964a011
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