Light-absorbing molecule
pigment
A light-absorbing molecule is a compound or substance that has the ability to absorb light energy. This process is known as absorption spectroscopy and is used in many scientific fields such as chemistry, physics, and biology.
The absorption of light by a molecule occurs when the energy of the incoming light is transferred to an electron in the molecule, raising it to a higher energy level or excited state. The amount of energy absorbed by the molecule depends on the wavelength of the light and the electronic structure of the molecule.
Examples of light-absorbing molecules include pigments such as chlorophyll, which is responsible for photosynthesis in plants, and hemoglobin, which is responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood of mammals. Other examples include dyes used in textiles and ink, as well as fluorescent compounds used in biomedical imaging.
Understanding the properties and behavior of light-absorbing molecules is important for many areas of research and application, from developing new energy technologies to designing drugs that target specific molecules in the body.
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