Concept explainers
Interpretation:
The reason for the appearance of fall foliage colors is to be determined.
Concept introduction:
Chlorophyll appears to be green in color as it absorbs all the components of white light and reflects green color the most.
Accessory pigments appear to be red, yellow, or brown in color as they absorb these colors to the least amount.
The main criterion for a substance to appear a particular color is the wavelength of the light that is absorbed to the least significant amount. The wavelength of that light will correspond to the color of the substance.
Answer to Problem 1RE
Solution: When a leaf falls, the amount of chlorophyll present in the leaf is lost and thus other colors of the accessory pigments are visible.
Explanation of Solution
The chlorophyll contains a pigment that absorbs all the other colors except the green color coming from the white light. Hence, it appears green in color. When a leaf falls from a plant, the chlorophyll content of the leaf is lost and the other pigments, which are the accessory pigments, become visible. This is due to the fact that these accessory pigments absorb all the other colors except red, brown, or yellow. Hence, these colors become visible after the detachment of a leaf from the plant. The accessory pigments vary from plant to plant and from different parts of the country due to change in the climatic conditions.
After the detachment of a leaf from the plant, the chlorophyll content of the leaf is lost and the colors of the accessory pigments are visible.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 22 Solutions
Biochemistry
- REFLECT AND APPLY List two classes of compounds derived from arachidonic acid. Suggest some reasons for the amount of biomedical research devoted to these compounds.arrow_forwardREFLECT AND APPLY In the produce department of supermarkets, vegetables and fruits (cucumbers are an example) have been coated with wax for shipping and storage. Suggest a reason why this is done.arrow_forwardRECALL What is qPCR?arrow_forward
- RECALL What does SDSPAGE stand for? What is the benefit of doing SDSPAGE?arrow_forwardRECALL Define the term reducing sugar.arrow_forwardREFLECT AND APPLY Would you expect the production of sugars by plants in photosynthesis to be an exergonic or endergonic process? Give the reason for your answer.arrow_forward
- RECALL What are two ways that a compound can be eluted from an affinity column? What could be the advantages or disadvantages of each?arrow_forwardREFLECT AND APPLY Why is it somewhat misleading to study bio- chemical pathways separately?arrow_forwardRECALL Suggest a way in which the difference between the functions of hemoglobin and myoglobin is reflected in the shapes of their respective oxygen-binding curves.arrow_forward
- BiochemistryBiochemistryISBN:9781305961135Author:Mary K. Campbell, Shawn O. Farrell, Owen M. McDougalPublisher:Cengage Learning