Which pigment is primarily responsible for the green color of plants and captures light energy?

• A. Carotenoids
• B. Xanthophylls
• C. Anthocyanins
• D. Chlorophyll

Answer: (D)

Chlorophyll is the pigment in plants that both gives leaves their green color and captures light energy for photosynthesis. It mainly absorbs blue and red light and reflects green, which is why leaves look green. This pigment sits in the chloroplasts and drives the light-dependent reactions, turning light energy into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH) used to make sugars from carbon dioxide. Other pigments like carotenoids and xanthophylls are helpers that broaden the range of light absorbed and protect chlorophyll, but they aren’t the primary pigment for capturing light in green leaves. Anthocyanins produce red or purple colors in other plant parts and don’t drive photosynthesis in these green tissues.