Color Chemistry - An Exciting Concept
Autumn is always known for the brightly hued colors that it brings with it. During autumn, the days are shorter and the temperatures are lower which causes the trees for the cold winter months. The trees shed their leaves during this season.
The colors which are created in this process are all breathtakingly unique and stunning. The green leaves of the trees turn into various tones of yellow, red and orange. The pigmentation changes in the leaves result into the transformation during this season.
The Green Pigment of the Leaves
The leaves of trees are always associated with the color green which is because of the chlorophyll process. The red and the blue light are absorbed by the leaves through the sunlight during this process. The light which is reflected by these leaves makes the red and the blue colors appear green. The characteristics of the pigment are as given below:
- Large, insoluble molecules
- It is not a stable compound
- It goes through decomposition when exposed to bright sunlight.
Chlorophyll is continuously synthesized for maintaining the right amount in the leaves. This process makes use of sunlight and hot temperatures. The degeneration and the break down of chlorophyll take place in summer because of the high temperatures.
Carotene
Carotene is a type of color pigment which can be found in leaves of plants. This particular pigment absorbs blue and blue green lights. The light which is reflected from the carotene creates yellow color. Carotene is type of a very large molecule which is also an ingredient which would be found in the chloroplasts. When carotene along with chlorophyll occurs together in the same leaves, red, blue, and blue green lights are removed from the sunlight. The green color is reflected from these leaves. The characteristics of carotene are as given below:
- Accessory absorber
- Stable compound
- The light transferred to the chlorophyll is absorbed by carotene
- The leaves with carotene appear yellow
Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins is a color pigment which absorbs blue, green and blue-green light. The leaves which have this pigment appear red in color. The color produced by anthocyanins is sensitive to pH of cell sap. Unlike chlorophyll and carotene, this particular pigment is not attached to the cell membranes. It can create a very bright and vivid red color since the cell saps are acidic. A sap which is less acidic would appear purple in color.
This particular pigment also gives the purple color which can be seen in ripe grapes and the red color in ripe apples. The pigment is formed due to the reaction between sugar and proteins present in the cell ssap. For leaves to be able to create this pigment, light is required which is why sometimes apples have green color on the side of shade and red in color on the side which was under sunlight.