Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in the chloroplasts of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that is essential for photosynthesis, the process by which light energy is converted into chemical energy to produce organic compounds like glucose
. It absorbs mainly blue and red wavelengths of light while reflecting green light, which gives plants their characteristic green color
. Chemically, chlorophyll consists of a central magnesium atom surrounded by a nitrogen-containing porphyrin ring and a long carbon-hydrogen side chain called a phytol chain
. There are several types of chlorophyll, with chlorophyll a and b being the most common in green plants and algae
. Chlorophyll's primary function is to absorb light energy and transfer it to reaction centers in photosystems, where it drives the redox reactions that produce oxygen and energy-rich molecules like ATP and NADPH, which are used to fix carbon dioxide into sugars
. This process sustains most life on Earth by producing oxygen and organic matter. In summary, chlorophyll is the key pigment that enables plants and other photosynthetic organisms to capture sunlight and convert it into chemical energy, supporting life on our planet
