Which pigment is crucial for photosynthesis?

Chlorophyll is the pigment crucial for photosynthesis because it plays a critical role in capturing light energy from the sun, which is essential for the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This process occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of plant cells. Chlorophyll absorbs light most efficiently in the blue-violet and red parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, reflecting green light, which is why plants appear green.

The ability of chlorophyll to absorb light enables plants to initiate the complex biochemical reactions that constitute photosynthesis, making it a fundamental component in the energy transfer processes that sustain plant life and, by extension, the life of organisms that rely on plants as a food source. Without chlorophyll, plants would not be able to produce the organic compounds necessary for their growth and survival, nor would they contribute to the oxygen levels in the atmosphere.