chromophore
Light-absorbing segment
A chromophore is the part of a molecule responsible for its color.
When light hits a substance, the chromophore absorbs certain wavelengths and reflects others—what we see is the reflected light.
Dyes, pigments, and biological molecules like chlorophyll and hemoglobin owe their characteristic colors to their chromophores.
The term appears in chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science.
Pigment for changing hues
Spatial repetition interval
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- visibleAble to be seen
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
- emissionDischarged substance or act
fluorescence · phosphorescence · spectroscopy · spectrophotometry · peak · bandwidth · broadband · narrowband
Process of taking in
- excitationStimulation of response
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- electronNegative subatomic particle
- transitionChange from one state
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- bioluminescenceOrganism-generated light emission
- photoreceptorCell responding to light
- visionAbility to see
- photosynthesisLight-to-sugar conversion in plants
retinal · melanin · hemoglobin
dye
Pigment for changing hues
wavelength
Spatial repetition interval
- ultravioletWavelengths shorter than violet
- visibleAble to be seen
- infraredHeat-bearing electromagnetic waves
emission · fluorescence · phosphorescence · spectroscopy · spectrophotometry · peak · bandwidth · broadband · narrowband · spectrum
absorption
Process of taking in
- excitationStimulation of response
- photonElectromagnetic radiation unit
- electronNegative subatomic particle
transition · conjugation · delocalization · resonance · absorbance
chlorophyll
Light-harvesting plant pigment
- bioluminescenceOrganism-generated light emission
- photoreceptorCell responding to light
- visionAbility to see
aromatic
Pleasantly strong-smelling
quinone · carotenoid · retinal · coumarin