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An action spectrum is a graph of the rate of biological effectiveness plotted against
Plant Physiology Online: Principles of Spectrophotometry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrsorption Spectrum Photosynthesis Absorption spectroscopy
An action spectrum is a graph of the rate of biological effectiveness plotted against wavelength
In physics and mathematics, wavelength or spatial period of a wave or periodic function is the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.
In other words, it is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same ''phase (waves ...
of light
Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be visual perception, perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400– ...
. It is related to absorption spectrum in many systems. Mathematically, it describes the inverse quantity of light required to evoke a constant response. It is very rare for an action spectrum to describe the level of biological activity, since biological responses are often nonlinear with intensity.
Action spectra are typically written as unit-less responses with peak response of one, and it is also important to distinguish if an action spectrum refers to quanta at each wavelength (mol or log-photons), or to spectral power (W).
It shows which wavelength
In physics and mathematics, wavelength or spatial period of a wave or periodic function is the distance over which the wave's shape repeats.
In other words, it is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same ''phase (waves ...
of light
Light, visible light, or visible radiation is electromagnetic radiation that can be visual perception, perceived by the human eye. Visible light spans the visible spectrum and is usually defined as having wavelengths in the range of 400– ...
is most effectively used in a specific chemical reaction
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the chemistry, chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. When chemical reactions occur, the atoms are rearranged and the reaction is accompanied by an Gibbs free energy, ...
. Some reactants are able to use specific wavelengths of light more effectively to complete their reactions. For example, chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words (, "pale green") and (, "leaf"). Chlorophyll allows plants to absorb energy ...
is much more efficient at using the red and blue regions than the green region of the light spectrum
A spectrum (: spectra or spectrums) is a set of related ideas, objects, or properties whose features overlap such that they blend to form a continuum. The word ''spectrum'' was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of co ...
to carry out photosynthesis
Photosynthesis ( ) is a system of biological processes by which photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical energy necessary to fuel their metabo ...
. Therefore, the action spectrum graph would show spikes above the wavelengths representing the colours red and blue
Blue is one of the three primary colours in the RYB color model, RYB colour model (traditional colour theory), as well as in the RGB color model, RGB (additive) colour model. It lies between Violet (color), violet and cyan on the optical spe ...
.
The first action spectrum was made by T. W. Engelmann, who split light into its components by the prism and then illuminated '' Cladophora'' placed in a suspension of aerobic bacteria
Bacteria (; : bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of Prokaryote, prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micr ...
. He found that bacteria accumulated in the region of blue and red light of the split spectrum
A spectrum (: spectra or spectrums) is a set of related ideas, objects, or properties whose features overlap such that they blend to form a continuum. The word ''spectrum'' was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of co ...
. He thus discovered the effect of the different wavelengths of light on photosynthesis
Photosynthesis ( ) is a system of biological processes by which photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical energy necessary to fuel their metabo ...
and plotted the first action spectrum of photosynthesis.
Action spectra have a wide variety of uses in biological and chemical research, particularly in understanding the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on biological molecules and systems. UV light wavelengths range between 295 nm-400 nm and are known to induce skin and DNA damage. As a result, action spectra have been used to measure the efficiency of different light wavelengths in disinfecting water, the rate and mechanism of photodegradation of folic acid in the blood, and the chirality of molecules to determine secondary structure. Further examples include suppression of melatonin by wavelength and a variety of hazard functions, related to tissue damage from visible and near-visible light.
See also
* Photosynthetically active radiation *Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis ( ) is a system of biological processes by which photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical energy necessary to fuel their metabo ...
* Absorption spectrum
* Chlorophyll a
References
External links
Plant Physiology Online: Principles of Spectrophotometry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abrsorption Spectrum Photosynthesis Absorption spectroscopy