Why Is Grass Green?

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Everyday, our eyes see various things and each of these things has a particular color. Among the things which our eyes spot is the green color of grass. One may perhaps ask him or herself why grass is green in color. Well, not much explanation is available as to why grass is green in color but the green color of grass is majorly attributed to chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a pigment that’s found in the leaves of plant. It is a green coloring matter that gives leaves their green color. Chlorophyll is essential for photosynthesis, that is the process through which plants manufacture their own food. Chlorophyll absorbs energy from sunlight and plants use this energy to break down carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and ATP energy. The carbohydrates which have been made in the leaves are then transported to other parts of the plants through vascular bundles known as phloem.

Chlorophyll gives grass its color

Like the leaves of most plants, grass also contains chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is green in color and hence grass appears green as it assumes the color of chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll and absorption of light

Chlorophyll absorbs blue light. Blue light is characterised by short wavelengths and high energy. Chlorophyll also absorbs red light. Red light is characterised by long wavelengths and low energy. Green light is however reflected by chlorophyll. The rays from the green light that is reflected by chlorophyll reach the eyes and that’s why grass appears green.

Plants need to absorb light in order to use it to make food through the process of photosynthesis. Chlorophyll therefore comes in handy by enabling this absorption of light. Chlorophyll absorbs almost half of the light that interacts with it.

Still in relation to the absorption of light, it can simply be said that the reason the grass is green is because it absorbs all the colors of the rainbow except green. There are seven colors of the rainbow namely red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Grass and other green vegetation reflect short wavelength infrared light.

Porphyrins and the color of grass

The green color of grass is also equated to pigments from porphyrins that are contained in grass. Porphyrins refer to large and flat molecules which have a unique electronic structure that enables them to interact with light in a way that makes them have their characteristic colors and biochemical properties.

Porphyrin chemists explain the green color of grass with the presence of chlorins in grass. Chlorins are molecules which form part of chlorophyll. They

are heterocycles that are related to porphyrins but are however more reduced and contain more hydrogen. They also contain a pyrroline subunit.

Light frequency

In addition to everything, the green color of grass can be explained by the kind of light frequency that is perceived by the eye. The frequency of light that reaches the eyes when one looks at grass is that which appears green in color and this is why grass is green. Different colors are visible to the eye because of the various frequencies of light that are perceived by the eye.

Grass is green like other vegetation

Most vegetation that forms part of nature is green in color. Grass is arguably the most widespread vegetation, when one visits various parts of the world, they are likely to see grass unless maybe grass is missing as a result of natural occurrences like snow or human activities like construction. Like most vegetation, grass is green in color.

Grass makes the environment beautiful. The green color of grass adds to nature’s beauty.

 

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