Which Pigment Absorbs Which Wavelengths?

Chlorophyll

• Chlorophyll reflects the color green and absorbs all other colors contained in white light. It has three types, aptly named chlorophyll a, b and c. All types of plants use chlorophyll a in photosynthesis, and it can also be found on some bacteria and algae. Common green algae---as well as some plants---produce chlorophyll b, while chlorophyll c can be found in dinoflagellates and Chromista, which use photosynthesis to produce their own food.

Carotenoid

• Carotenoids absorb all colors except yellow, orange and red. Carotene, a well-known carotenoid pigment, is responsible for the color of carrots. Carotenoids do not dissolve in water and can only transfer the energy they absorb to chlorophyll, hence making it an accessory pigment.

Anthocyanins

• Anthocyanins reflect mostly red and yellow colors, while absorbing blue and green colors. They are water-soluble pigments that can be found in a plant's flower and fruits, including apples. During autumn when leaves of trees change in color, the ones producing red leaves have anthocyanins.

Phycobilins

• Phycobilins can be divided into two pigment types: phycocyanin and phycoerythrin. Phycocyanin absorbs all colors except blue, while phycoeyrthrin absorbs all colors except red. Phycobilins are unique in that only two types of biological matter produce them---cyanobacteria and rhodophyta. Cyanobacteria, which produce phycocyanin, are unicellular bacteria living in water colonies. Rhodophyta, also known as the red algae, produce phycoerythrin.

Other Pigments

• Other biological creatures---such as animals and humans---also contain pigments. The most common insoluble pigment found in animals and humans is "melanin," which is responsible for the color of our skin, hair and eyes. "Eumelanin," the most common type of melanin, reflects dark colors, such as black and brown, while absorbing all other wavelengths. Humans also produce a wide variety of inorganic pigments that we use in coloring textiles and paints.