Which of the following statements about the absorption of photons by pigment molecules is true?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When photons are absorbed by pigment molecules, the energy is used to excite electrons in the pigment molecules to a higher energy level. The energy released by these electrons can be in the form of heat, light, or fluorescence. This is why pigments are able to absorb light and use it for photosynthesis or other biological processes. Option A is incorrect because photons do not raise electrons to the ground state; rather, they excite them to a higher energy level. Option B is incorrect because it does not take several minutes for pigment electrons to become excited. Option D is incorrect because excitation of electrons is not a stable state; rather, it is a temporary state of high energy that leads to the release of energy in various forms.

Which of the Following Statements About the Absorption of Photons