Leaves Green in Color

Why are leaves green in color?

            Leaves come in various color but most often they are green. Do you know why the leaves of almost all plants are found in this color?

            We know that the color of any substance depends upon its property of absorption and reflection of the different colors of light. The leaves of the plant appear colored due to the presence of some specific substances in them. For example, the presence of chlorophyll makes them appear green while the presence of carotene makes them yellow.

 Chlorophyll gives the leaves their green colour

            When the leaf contains more than one substance, the color is a mixture. The leaves, which contain both chlorophyll and carotene, appear yellowish green.

            New leaves of some plants contain a red substance called anthocyanin, which gives the pink or red color to the tender leaves. With the passage of time, chlorophyll and carotene are formed in these leaves, which ultimately turn them green.

            The structure of chlorophyll molecules is such that when the sunlight (mixture of seven colors) falls on them, they reflect the green color and absorb the rest. It is this green light that is visible and makes the leaf green.

            Plants synthesize their food with the help of chlorophyll in the presence of the sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. This process is called photosynthesis. Plants without chlorophyll like fungi cannot make their own food. They depend on other living beings. Such plants are called parasites.

            So, you see chlorophyll is very important substance for plants. Apart from imparting the green color to them, chlorophyll also helps a plant to synthesis’ food.

How is Sunlight Beneficial for Us?

            Sunlight has many beneficial effects on human beings and life in general. But now it has bee scientifically prove that sunlight also as medicinal values that helps in the prevention, cure and treatment of many diseases.

A Man taking sunbath on a beach

            Sunlight destroys certain fungi and Bactria that may settle on our skin and cause diseases. Secondly, it acts as a protective agent by further activating the white blood cells. The white blood cells defend the body form the attack of disease-causing germs, thus sunlight helps us to develop a greater resistance to fight diseases.

            There is a substance in the skin called ergo sterol that is transformed into vitamin D by the ultraviolet rays coming form the sun. This vitamin is very useful for bones, particularly, in disease like rickets.

            Exposure to the rays of the sun is just like swallowing a teaspoonful of medicine every five minutes. But it is important to remember that this medicine is by no means harmless.

            We have to be just as careful about sunbathing, as we would have to be bout taking medicine. Sunbathing raises the blood pressure, so people who have heart trouble or certain lung diseases run the risk of physical harm by excessive exposure to the sun. In fact, we should expose ourselves to sunlight only in phases. For instance, while sunbathing, the best thing is to begin b exposing one-fifth of the body for about five minutes. The next day, expose another one-fifth of the body for an extra five minutes, and so on.

            In this way, one can get all the benefits of sunlight without taking any undue risk.