In oxygenic photosynthesis, what is the primary function of chlorophyll pigments in the light reactions?

• A. Provide the enzyme activity that splits water into $O_2$ and protons
• B. Catalyze the fixation of $C_{O}2$ into carbohydrates during the Calvin cycle
• C. Absorb photons and transfer excitation energy and electrons to the reaction center to drive electron transport
• D. Store light energy directly by converting $ADP$ into $ATP$ without electron transport

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that chlorophyll pigments are molecules that absorb light energy during the light reactions of oxygenic photosynthesis.
2. Recognize that the primary role of chlorophyll is to absorb photons and transfer the excitation energy to the reaction center of the photosystem.
3. Know that this excitation energy is used to excite electrons, which are then passed through an electron transport chain to generate a proton gradient.
4. Recall that the enzyme complex responsible for splitting water into oxygen (O\_2) and protons is called the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), associated with Photosystem II.
5. Differentiate the roles: chlorophyll pigments absorb and transfer light energy, the oxygen-evolving complex splits water, and the Calvin cycle enzymes fix CO\_2 into carbohydrates.