What happens in the fall when leaves change colors?
Not what you're looking for?
Plants absorb light energy using special molecules called photosynthetic pigments (predominantly chlorophylls). These pigments absorb most of the visible light except for wavelengths in the green part of the spectrum. Consequently, plants appear green. But what happens in the fall when leaves change colors? Why are there so many different colors? And why are the colors more intense some years?
Purchase this Solution
Solution Preview
In the fall, the leaves change colors because the chlorophyll molecules begin to degrade. As the cells in the leaves shut down and begin to die, the molecules they contain begin to fall apart. As the amount of chlorophyll in the cells decreases, the amount of reflected green light diminishes. As a result, the leaves start to change color away from green.
But, why do they change colors to yellow, orange, and red? The answer lies in the fact that leaves have different kinds of pigments in them besides just chlorophyll. In fact, they have all kinds of ...
Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Bacterial Genetics
This quiz test your knowledge of the genetics of bacteria.
Pregnancy Knowledge
How much do you know about being pregnant? Test your Pregnancy IQ with this quiz!
Creating a Birth Plan
Preparing for a birth and want to make sure that you're including all the right information? Use this quiz to get on the right track and check your birth plan knowledge!
The Transfer of Energy in an Ecosystem
This quiz will assess your knowledge of how energy is transferred in an ecosystem and the different levels of trophic organization.
Understanding the Musculoskeletal system
Introduce and understand basic information how the skeletal system and muscular system work in close concert with one another. And how their interaction between muscle and bone, as they work together to allow us movement.