CHAPTER ONE (1)
1.1 INTRODUCTION
CHLOROPHYII (also chlorophyI) is a green pigment found in cyaobacteria and the chloroplast of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words chloros (Green) and phyllon (leaf). chlorophyII is an extremely important bimolecular, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to absorbed energy from light. chlorophyII absorb light most strongly in the blue portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, followed by the red portion. However, it is a poor absorber of green and near-green portion of the spectrum hence the green colour of chlorophyII containing tissues. cholorophyII was first isolated by Joseph Bienaime, Caventou and Pierre, Joseph Pelletier in 1817.
chlorphyII gives leaves their green colour and absorbed light that is also used in photosynthesis.
chlorophyII is found in high concentrations in chloroplasts of plant cells. chlorophyII is vital for photosynthesis, which allows plants to absorb energy from light.
The two currently accepted photosynthesis units are photo system II and photo system I, which have their own distinct reaction center chlorophyIIs, named p680 and p700, respectively. These pigments are named after the wavelength (in nanometers) of their red-peak absorption maximum. The identity function and spectral properties of the types of chlorophyII in each photosystem are distinct and determined by each other and the protein structure surrounding them. Once extracted from the protein into a solvent (such as acetone or methanol), (4) (5) (6) these chlorophyII pigments can be separated in a sample paper chromatography experiment and, based on the number of polar group between chlorophyII a and chlorophyII b, will chemically separate out on the paper.