Pigments are chemical compounds that reflect specific wavelengths of visible light.
Although aesthetically it is important that these pigments reflect such light, thus beautifying our world, it is their ability to absorb certain wavelengths that supports our ecosystem. Autotrophs, organisms that produce their own food, utilize certain pigments to carry out photosynthesis. Due to the wide range of the visible light spectrum, several different classes of pigments are needed in order to maximize the energy taken from the sun. The most prevalent of these pigments is chlorophyll. Due to the porphyrin ring structure of chlorophyll, electrons can move easily, thus allowing chlorophyll to capture the sun's energy.