Chlorophyll

What is Chlorophyll?

Chlorophyll is a green pigment that makes plants and algae look green. It comes from old Greek words that mean “pale green” and “leaf.” You can find chlorophyll in tiny blue-green cyanobacteria and inside special parts of plant cells called chloroplasts.

How Does Chlorophyll Work?

Chlorophyll helps plants use sunlight to make their own food. This process is called photosynthesis. Chlorophyll catches energy from light and helps make oxygen that we all need to breathe. It works best with blue and red light but not with green light, which is why plants look green.

Fun Facts About Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll was first found in 1817 by two scientists, Joseph Bienaimé Caventou and Pierre Joseph Pelletier. Later, other scientists learned more about it. There are two main types of chlorophyll, called chlorophyll a and b, that work together in plant cells.

Chlorophyll is very important for life on Earth because it helps plants grow and gives us clean air to breathe.