Which pigment captures light energy during photosynthesis?

The pigment that captures light energy during photosynthesis is chlorophyll. This pigment is primarily found in the chloroplasts of plant cells and plays a crucial role in converting light energy into chemical energy. Chlorophyll primarily absorbs light in the blue and red wavelengths, while reflecting green light, which is why plants appear green. This absorption of light energy is fundamental to the process of photosynthesis as it drives the reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Carotene and xanthophyll are accessory pigments that also play a role in photosynthesis, but their primary function is to capture light energy in different wavelengths and assist chlorophyll by broadening the spectrum of light that can be utilized. However, they do not directly capture light energy as efficiently as chlorophyll. Anthocyanin, on the other hand, is involved in providing color to plants and may contribute to absorbing some light energy, but it is not central to the photosynthetic process like chlorophyll is.