What are the light absorbing molecules called?

chlorophyll
In addition to water and carbon dioxide, photosynthesis requires light and chlorophyll. Plants gather the sun’s energy with light-absorbing molecules called pigments. The main pigment in plants is chlorophyll.

Where are the pigment molecules located?

Pigment molecules are held in place by the photosystems, which are protein complexes. The position of the pigments is essential for an efficient transfer of the excitation energy.

Where does the light reaction takes place?

thylakoid discs
The light reaction takes place in the thylakoid discs. There, water (H20) is oxidized, and oxygen (O2) is released. The electrons freed up from water are transfered to ATP and NADPH. The dark reaction occurs outside of the thylakoids.

Where are photosystems located?

Photosystems are the functional units for photosynthesis, defined by a particular pigment organization and association patterns, whose work is the absorption and transfer of light energy, which implies transfer of electrons. Physically, photosystems are found in the thylakoid membranes.

Which is the molecule that absorbs light?

These light-absorbing molecules include green chlorophylls, which are composed of a flat organic molecule surrounding a magnesium ion, and orange carotenoids, which have a long string of carbon-carbon double bonds. These molecules absorb light and use it to energize electrons.

Where does energy absorbed by sunlight go in photosynthesis?

This electron transport system uses the energy from the electron to pump hydrogen ions into the interior of the thylakoid. A pigment molecule in photosystem I accepts the electron. In the light-dependent reactions, energy absorbed by sunlight is stored by two types of energy-carrier molecules: ATP and NADPH.

Where are the pigments located in the photosystem?

Photosystems exist in the membranes of thylakoids. A pigment molecule in the photosystem absorbs one photon, a quantity or “packet” of light energy, at a time. A photon of light energy travels until it reaches a molecule of chlorophyll. The photon causes an electron in the chlorophyll to become “excited.”

Where are the light dependent reactions in photosynthesis?

The light-dependent reactions begin in a grouping of pigment molecules and proteins called a photosystem. Photosystems exist in the membranes of thylakoids. A pigment molecule in the photosystem absorbs one photon, a quantity or “packet” of light energy, at a time. A photon of light energy travels until it reaches a molecule of chlorophyll.