Why is the chlorophyll in chloroplasts less likely to produce fluorescence compared to extracted chlorophyll molecules?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of fluorescence. Fluorescence is the emission of light by a substance that has absorbed light or other electromagnetic radiation. It is a form of luminescence.
2. Step 2: Understand the role of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a pigment found in chloroplasts of plants that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis. It absorbs light most efficiently in the blue and red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and less efficiently in the green region.
3. Step 3: Understand the difference between chlorophyll in chloroplasts and extracted chlorophyll molecules. In chloroplasts, the absorbed light energy is used to drive the photosynthesis process, converting light energy into chemical energy. This energy is used to produce ATP and NADPH, which are used in the Calvin cycle to fix carbon dioxide into glucose. Therefore, there is less energy left to be emitted as fluorescence.
4. Step 4: On the other hand, when chlorophyll molecules are extracted and isolated from the plant cells, they are not involved in photosynthesis. When these molecules absorb light, they have no other processes to direct the energy towards. As a result, the absorbed energy is released as fluorescence.
5. Step 5: In conclusion, the chlorophyll in chloroplasts is less likely to produce fluorescence compared to extracted chlorophyll molecules because in chloroplasts, the absorbed light energy is used for photosynthesis, leaving less energy to be emitted as fluorescence.