Complete question:
Chlorophyll is the primary green pigment responsible for plant color. The molecule appears green because it absorbs all wavelengths of light except for green, which it reflects back for us to see. In the autumn, trees and plants undergo changes in their pigments. Which of the following best describes why we observe many trees change their color to red, orange, or yellow in the autumn?
A. As chlorophyll becomes colder, it changes its color from green to red, orange, or yellow.
B. Chlorophyll breaks down, exposing other pigment molecules we normally don't see.
C. The soil produces different nutrients in the winter that are absorbed into the plant and cause color change in the leaves.
D. Tree leaves stop producing chlorophyll in cold temperatures and produce other pigment molecules.
Explanation:
B. Chlorophyll breaks down, exposing other pigment molecules we normally don't see.
In the autumn and springtime, plants lessen chlorophyll a production, and redirect resources. This increases the amount of other pigments present, relative to chlorophyll a. Thus the wavelengths of light reflected are altered to orange-red, corresponding with the other pigment molecules.
Further Explanation:
Chlorophylls are comprised of a ringed molecule, chlorin, a hydrogenated form of porphyrin which contains a magnesium ion at the center, bonded to four atoms of nitrogen. Varying types of Chlorophyll have side chains, which affect the absorption spectrum of the molecule for instance A has a methyl group bonded to the C7 position, while B has an aldehyle (CHO) group at this location.
Embedded within the thykaloid membrane of chloroplasts, chlorophyll a and B mainly absorb orange-red and violet-blue wavelengths and convert light energy into chemical energy for the process of photosynthesis. This occurs in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, within chloroplasts of plants. The range of wavelengths absorbed by a pigment is its absorption spectrum while it reflects those outside of this range. Plants appear green as this region of light is reflected by the pigments.
Learn more about photosynthesis at brainly.com/question/4216541
Learn more about cellular life at brainly.com/question/11259903
#LearnWithBrainly
