A pigment absorbs a photon if the energy of the photon is
A) exactly enough to boost an electron of the pigment to a higher energy level.
B) slightly more than the energy of the electron absorbing the photon.
C) significantly more than the energy of the electron absorbing the photon.
D) exactly twice the energy of the electron absorbing the photon.
E) any of these, depending on the type of pigment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A pigment absorbs a photon if the energy of the photon is exactly enough to boost an electron of the pigment to a higher energy level. This is because the energy levels of the electron in the pigment are quantized, meaning that only certain energy levels are possible. When a photon is absorbed, it must have just the right amount of energy to boost an electron from one energy level to another. If the energy of the photon is not sufficient, it will not be absorbed. If the energy of the photon is significantly more than the energy required to boost an electron to a higher energy level, the excess energy will be lost as heat or emitted as another photon.

A Pigment Absorbs a Photon If the Energy of the Photon