Difference Between Chlorophyll and Chloroplast

The difference between chlorophyll and chloroplast is due to the following factors:
Existence
Chlorophyll exists as a primary photosynthetic pigment inside the chloroplast. Chloroplast exists as photosynthetic cell organelles in a plant cell and appears as a membranous structure that resembles mitochondria.

Involvement in photosynthesis
Chlorophyll mainly absorbs blue and red light energy from the sun and converts it into chemical energy whereas chloroplast is a part where photosynthesis occurs.

To get the idea of chlorophyll and chloroplast involvement in the photosynthetic activity of a plant system, let us suppose:

• Chloroplast as a unit where food is produced and stored.
• Chlorophyll as the workers those who prepare a product by the assistance of sunlight.
• Sunlight can consider as a fuel that functions to provide a natural source of energy to the chlorophyll for the production of food.
• And, carbon dioxide and water can function as a raw material for food preparation.

Content: Chlorophyll Vs Chloroplast

1. Comparison Chart
2. Definition
3. Key Differences
4. Similarities
5. Conclusion

Comparison Chart

Properties	Chlorophyll	Chloroplast
Definition	Chlorophyll can define as the green photosynthetic pigments that are involved in the photosynthetic activity of the plants	Chloroplast can define as the green membranous structures that provides the site for the photosynthetic activity
DNA	Here it is absent	Chloroplast contains its own DNA (cp-DNA)
Location	It is located within the stacks-like thylakoid of the chloroplast	It is located within mesophyll cells of the leaf
Types	Basically of five types, but chlorophyll-a and b are the two major groups	Chloroplast is a type of plastid and do not classify into any groups
Functional role	It performs a functional role in conversion of absorbed light energy to chemical energy by preparing organic food for a plant	It performs a functional role in providing space and enzymes during the light and dark reaction of photosynthesis
Imparts colour	It imparts an intense green colour to the chloroplast	It is responsible for the green colouration of the leaf
Occurrence	It is ubiquitous in plants, cyanobacteria and algae	It is ubiquitous in plants and algae
Structure	Its structure consists of central magnesium atom, tetrapyrrole ring and a side phytol chain	Its structure consists of outer membrane, intercellular space, outer membrane and specialized thylakoid membrane
Identifying feature	It is a plant pigment	It is a cell organelle

Definition of Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll can define as the primary pigments produced by the plants that direct the process of photosynthesis to prepare food. It functions by absorbing the light energy (sunlight) and storing the chemical energy (ATP and NADH) to perform cellular functions. Plants use chlorophyll pigment to convert the absorbed light energy and carbon dioxide into chemical energy in the form of organic food (carbohydrate). Its occurrence is ubiquitous in all photosynthetic organisms like higher plants, protists etc.

The location of chlorophyll is within the stack-like thylakoids. Generally, there are five kinds of chlorophyll, namely chl-a, chl-b, chl-c, chl-d and chl-f. Among all the types, chl-a and chl-b are the major groups that primarily take part in both light and dark reactions of the plant. The chemical structure of chlorophyll consists of the following elements like:

• Central magnesium atom
• Porphyrin ring
• And a phytol side chain

The different groups of chlorophyll vary in their chemical composition by having similar central atom and porphyrin ring, but different side chain. Its chemical structure is more or less identical to the chemical structure of haemoglobin (oxygen-carrying pigment). Chlorophyll is the fat-soluble organic molecule which is generally the “Chlorin pigments” having tetrapyrrole ring. Therefore, chlorophyll can also refer to as “Magnesium chlorin or tetrapyrrole pigments”.

Functions: Chlorophyll performs the following tasks like:

• Imparts green colour to the plant by absorbing light radiation.
• Besides photosynthesis, chlorophyll also protects against oxidative stress and UV-damage.

Definition of Chloroplast

It can define as membranous structures which are located within the mesophyll cells and concentrated by the parenchymatous cells in the leaf. Chloroplast occurs as a site of photosynthetic activity by a plant. Its structure looks similar to the mitochondrial membrane, by having:

Outer smooth layer: It imports the nuclear-encoded proteins, acts as a site for the biosynthesis of lipids and provides a physical barrier for the movement of molecules or ions.
Inner smooth membrane: It helps in the synthesis of different metabolites and the cell-division of cell organelles.
Intermembrane space: It is the middle space between the smooth outer and inner layer of the chloroplast whose diameter is about 10-20nm.

Besides, chloroplast contains an internal thylakoid membrane. It comprises of several specialized stack-like structures refers as “grana” which are surrounded by aqueous stroma and connected by stroma lamellae.

Functions: Chloroplast performs the following tasks like:

• It is solely involved in the photosynthesis process of plants.
• Chloroplast generates metabolic energy for the plant.
• It also functions in the storage of food.

Similarities

1. Both are involved in the photosynthetic activity of a plant.
2. Chlorophyll and chloroplast are present in higher plants and algae.
3. Both are green coloured.

Conclusion

Therefore, we can conclude that both chlorophyll and chloroplast are essential for many reasons, like:

• The green colour of the leaf.
• Splitting of water and CO₂ into glucose and oxygen or in the photosynthetic activity by a plant.

Both play their unique role in a plant cell and works together by helping plant in many ways.