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.