Science glossary film: Chlorophyll

A green pigment found in all plants and algae that enables energy from sunlight to be converted to chemical energy through the process of photosynthesis. In plant cells, chlorophyll is held within membrane-bound structures called chloroplasts. Chlorophyll absorbs mainly blue and red wavelengths of light, and reflects green ones, and it is this reflected light that gives plants their leafy colour.

In plant cells, chlorophyll is held within membrane-bound structures called chloroplasts. Chlorophyll absorbs mainly blue and red wavelengths of light, and reflects green ones, and it is this reflected light that gives plants their leafy colour.