As energy passes from blue-absorbing chlorophylls down to red-absorbing chlorophylls, surprisingly, no energy passes from lower energy-absorbing pigments back to higher ones (in other words, the process is irreversible). Why might that be?

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Chapter8: Photosynthesis
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 3VCQ: Figure 8.18 Which of the following statements is true? In photosynthesis, oxygen, carbon dioxide,...
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7. For an organism to convert enough energy to survive, it needs more than one
chlorophyll gathering light. Usually, they are spread out and around the reaction center
and act as an antenna (see figure below). The outer chlorophyll molecules absorb the
highest energy visible light. These chlorophylls pass the energy onto chlorophylls closer
to the reaction center that absorb lower energy light, and the process continues until
the energy reaches the reaction center (see figure below.)
Blue-absorbing pigments
Orange-absorbing
pigments
Red-absorbing
pigments
=chorophyll
Reaction
=reaction center
center
Figures adapted from Blankenship
As energy passes from blue-absorbing chlorophylls down to red-absorbing chlorophylls,
surprisingly, no energy passes from lower energy-absorbing pigments back to higher
ones (in other words, the process is irreversible). Why might that be?
Energy
Transcribed Image Text:7. For an organism to convert enough energy to survive, it needs more than one chlorophyll gathering light. Usually, they are spread out and around the reaction center and act as an antenna (see figure below). The outer chlorophyll molecules absorb the highest energy visible light. These chlorophylls pass the energy onto chlorophylls closer to the reaction center that absorb lower energy light, and the process continues until the energy reaches the reaction center (see figure below.) Blue-absorbing pigments Orange-absorbing pigments Red-absorbing pigments =chorophyll Reaction =reaction center center Figures adapted from Blankenship As energy passes from blue-absorbing chlorophylls down to red-absorbing chlorophylls, surprisingly, no energy passes from lower energy-absorbing pigments back to higher ones (in other words, the process is irreversible). Why might that be? Energy
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