Chlorophyll A vs. Chlorophyll B

Main Difference

Both chlorophyll A and B are essential for photosynthesis but chlorophyll A plays major role then chlorophyll B. Chlorophyll A has large molecules while chlorophyll B has smaller.

Difference Between Chlorophyll A and Chlorophyll B

Chlorophyll A

In the oxygenic part of photosynthesis chlorophyll A is used exclusively. The light part of wavelength violet and red are mostly absorbed in this process. Green light is reflected thus we see plants green. In electron transport chain, the chlorophyll is responsible to donate primary electron. Thus, it is essential for photosynthesis in eukaryocyte, cynobacterium, and prochlorophyte. In the antenna complex the chlorophyll transfers energy and ends the reaction center where p680 and p700 are located. It is not the only property to use in photosynthesis but it is essential one to release chemical energy. In anaerobic autotroph and bacteria little amount of chlorophyll A is found.

Chlorophyll B

One more form of chlorophyll is chlorophyll B. It also is in charge to lock in light energy from the sun may also be termed as photoreceptor. It is additional soluble than chlorophyll A, for the reason that it has carbonyl group, in polar solvents. It on the whole absorbs blue light and reflects yellow wavelength light. Thus it appears yellow. Around the photosystem 2, the light harvesting antenna, it is highly surrounded by chlorophyll B. shade adapted chloroplast has higher ratio of photosystem 2 to 1. Due to this the chlorophyll B ratio is higher and chlorophyll A is lesser. This is an adaptive change. By shade chloroplast the chlorophyll B increases the range of absorbed light wave length. It occurs side by side to chlorophyll A but it is an accessory chloroplast. The perks of it is that it acts as an emergent backup. It has molecular weight of 907. Chlorophyll B has difference in its function group bind to the porphyrin that makes it stand out in photosystem. It primarily absorbs red and blue light from the sun. It also plays role to synthesize glucose in plant.