Photosynthetic organisms capture light energy and use it to form carbohydrates and free oxygen from carbon dioxide and water in a complex series of reactions. These different colors of visible light can be separated by passing visible light through a prism. Light of different colors bend at different angles when passing through a prism. They can be measured in terms of wavelength - the distance between the peak of one wave and the peak of the next. List the radiations of the electromagnetic spectrum beginning with the ones that have the shortest wavelength.
Many biological activities depend on wavelengths of visible light.
In order for light energy to be used by living systems, it must first be absorbed. Pigments are substances that absorb light. Chlorophyll a is the pigment in plants and algae that can drive the reactions of photosynthesis. The other pigments are considered accessory pigments. When a pigment absorbs light, electrons are boosted to a higher energy level.