Difference Between Chlorophyll and Chloroplast

Factors such as chlorophyll's existence as well as its role in photosynthesis make chlorophyll and chloroplast different. The chloroplast is the primary photosynthetic pigment found within a chloroplast in a plant cell, resembling mitochondria. The chlorophyll occurs as a secondary photosynthetic pigment within the chloroplast. In basic terms, chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light from the sun and transforms it into chemical energy, while chloroplast is where photosynthesis occurs.

What is Chlorophyll and What are its Characteristics?

Photosynthesis is a process in which plants use sunlight to provide energy and nutrition to themselves through the use of a green pigment called chlorophyll. Some of the characteristics of photosynthesis are as follows: 

• The Tetrapyrrole pigments or Magnesium chlorine molecules are fat-soluble organic molecules with a tetrapyrrole ring.

• Green plants produce food in the chloroplast, which is found in the cell wall.

• It is responsible for the healthy growth of plants.

• In green plants, it is present in the mesophyll cells.

• The mesophyll absorbs wavelengths in the red and blue regions.

• ATP synthesis and other reactions are carried out in the cytoplasm, or power house of the cell, just like the mitochondria.

• Contains a similar structure to that of the hemoglobin heme group and the cytochromes that derive from protoporphyrin.

What is a Chloroplast and What are its Characteristics?

The chloroplast is called the organelle or the site where chlorophyll is responsible for trapping sunlight and forming ATP in plants. The following characteristics of chloroplasts are important to remember - 

• Every green plant contains an organelle.

• Photosynthesis takes place here, transforming sunlight into chemical energy.

• This occurs in the dense fluid part of the chloroplast.

• This organism engages in photosynthesis, light reactions, carbon assimilation reactions, among other things.

• Includes the fluid stroma inside the double membrane.

• Thylakoids are tiny, flattened, floating sacs arranged as granules.

Chlorophyll vs. Chloroplast

Here is a detailed look at the differences between chlorophyll and chloroplast now that you know what chlorophyll and chloroplast are.

Overview

Photosynthesis in plants and algae is carried out by chloroplasts and chlorophyll. Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes produce chlorophyll for photosynthetic purposes. The chloroplast is found only in plants, fungi, and eukaryotes because they are membrane-bound organelles. A cyanobacterium is a photosynthetic prokaryote that contains only chlorophyll. Carotenoids are found in plants in addition to chlorophylls, which absorb light in regions of the spectrum that chlorophylls cannot. Phalloplasty have thylakoid membranes made up of chlorophylls. They are better at trapping light in the violet-blue and orange-red portions of the spectrum. They reflect green light. The green color of photosynthetic organisms, therefore, indicates their photosynthetic activity. In chloroplasts, where chlorophylls are present, the light reaction of photosynthesis occurs. In the stroma of chloroplasts, the dark reaction of photosynthesis occurs. Therefore, chloroplasts are necessary for photosynthesis to occur in cells by providing the necessary space. As a result, chlorophyll and chloroplast are mainly differentiated by their role in photosynthesis.

The Stages of Photosynthesis

In addition to the information above, you should also know that photosynthesis has two distinct phases. Light reactions occur in Stage I, and Calvin cycles occur in Stage II. 

1. Light Reaction

The first stage of photosynthesis involves plants converting light energy into chemical energy with the help of water. NADPH and ATP store this chemical energy. An oxygen by-product is generated during this reaction.

2. Calvin Cycle

Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is absorbed by plants and combined with the chemical energy they store. As a result of this stage's combination with NADPH and ATP, glucose is produced, which fulfills the plants' nutritional needs.

6CO₂+6H₂O+Light Energy→C₆H₁₂O₆+6O₂