Chlorophyll | Definition, Function, & Facts - Britannica

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Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos chlorophyll Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics Images & Videos chlorophyll The video thumbnail image shows a green leaf with a rainbow graphic arcing towards it. Learn About the Greenness of Plants Learn How the Layered Arrangement of Chlorophyll Molecules Within a Leaf Increases Its Photosynthetic Output Euglena gracilis in pond water Diagram of the light reactions of photosynthesis How leaves are adapted to their environments Explore the anatomy of a plant's mesophyll to understand how chlorophyll generates a green appearance How Does Photosynthesis Work in Plants? The function and structure of chloroplasts For Students Photosynthesis diagram showing how water, light, and carbon dioxide are absorbed by a plant and that oxygen and sugars are produced. Also show a person to illustrate the oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle between plants and animals. Pop Quiz: 13 Things to Know About Photosynthesis Britannica AI Icon Contents Science Biology Cells, Organs & Tissues CITE verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/chlorophyll Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

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External Websites
  • Oregon State University - Micronutrient Information Center - Chlorophyll and Metallo-Chlorophyll Derivatives
  • National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Chlorophylls: A Personal Snapshot
  • BMC - BMC Plant Biology - The role of chlorophyll b in photosynthesis: Hypothesis
  • Verywell Health - The Benefits of Chlorophyll
  • WebMD - Chlorophyll - Uses, Side Effects, and More
  • Life Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Chlorophyll (PDF)
  • Frontiers - Chlorophyll a fluorescence as a tool to monitor physiological status in the leaves of Artemisia ordosica under root cutting conditions
  • MedicineNet - What does Chlorophyll do to your Body?
  • International Journal of Science and Research - Extraction and Estimation of Chlorophyll from Medicinal Plants (PDF)
  • Cleveland Clinic - Can Chlorophyll Supplements Benefit Your Health?
  • CellPress - Evolution of Chlorophyll Biosynthesis—The Challenge to Survive Photooxidation
  • University of Bristol - School of Chemistry - Chlorophyll
Britannica Websites Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
  • chlorophyll - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
chlorophyll
chlorophyll Chlorophyll is a pigment found in green plants. (more)
chlorophyll biology Ask Anything Homework Help Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Dec. 13, 2025 •History Britannica AI Icon Britannica AI Ask Anything Homework Help Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask Anything

chlorophyll, any member of the most important class of pigments involved in photosynthesis, the process by which light energy is converted to chemical energy through the synthesis of organic compounds. Chlorophyll is found in virtually all photosynthetic organisms, including green plants, cyanobacteria, and algae. It absorbs energy from light; this energy is then used to convert carbon dioxide to carbohydrates.

The video thumbnail image shows a green leaf with a rainbow graphic arcing towards it.
What determines a plant's color?It's not easy being green.(more)See all videos for this article

Chlorophyll occurs in several distinct forms: chlorophylls a and b are the major types found in higher plants and green algae; chlorophylls c and d are found, often with a, in different algae; chlorophyll e is a rare type found in some golden algae; and bacterio-chlorophyll occurs in certain bacteria. In green plants chlorophyll occurs in membranous disklike units (thylakoids) in organelles called chloroplasts.

Key People: Richard Willstätter Henri Dutrochet Hans Fischer Ernst Felix Hoppe-Seyler (Show more) Related Topics: Why Are Plants Green? Why Is Grass Green? chlorophyll b chlorophyll a bacteriochlorophyll (Show more) On the Web: Cleveland Clinic - Can Chlorophyll Supplements Benefit Your Health? (Dec. 13, 2025) (Show more) See all related content
Learn About the Greenness of Plants1 of 2
Learn About the Greenness of PlantsThe perfect absorbers of solar radiation are black objects, yet plants, which depend on efficient mechanisms of absorbing solar radiation, are overwhelmingly green. Speculation of why this is so ranges from random chance to the possibility that the radiation-absorbing properties of chlorophyll are adequate to provide for the energy needs of Earth's plants.(more)See all videos for this article
Learn How the Layered Arrangement of Chlorophyll Molecules Within a Leaf Increases Its Photosynthetic Output2 of 2
Learn How the Layered Arrangement of Chlorophyll Molecules Within a Leaf Increases Its Photosynthetic OutputMolecules of chlorophyll, the key photosynthetic pigment in green plants, are arranged within a leaf such that they minimize the plant's need to transport incoming solar radiation while also increasing a leaf's photosynthetic output.(more)See all videos for this article

The chlorophyll molecule consists of a central magnesium atom surrounded by a nitrogen-containing structure called a porphyrin ring; attached to the ring is a long carbon–hydrogen side chain, known as a phytol chain. Variations are due to minor modifications of certain side groups. Chlorophyll is remarkably similar in structure to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying pigment found in the red blood cells of mammals and other vertebrates.

Photosynthesis diagram showing how water, light, and carbon dioxide are absorbed by a plant and that oxygen and sugars are produced. Also show a person to illustrate the oxygen/carbon dioxide cycle between plants and animals. Britannica Quiz Pop Quiz: 13 Things to Know About Photosynthesis Keep Learning
  • How does photosynthesis work in plants?
  • Why are plants green? The science of plant colors explained
  • What is the relationship between chlorophyll and the changing colors of autumn leaves?
  • How are chlorophyll and hemoglobin similar and different?
  • How do scientists use chlorophyll to study ocean health and climate change?
The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.

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