What is chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is found in plants - it absorbs the energy from sunlight and turns it into energy the plants can use. The plants need this energy to breathe (they take up carbon dioxide and release oxygen), and grow. This is known as photosynthesis. The green color in plants is from chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is found in all plants, whether on land or in water. In the ocean, some small plants (phytoplankton) grow in large groups that are visible from satellites. The green color of the chlorophyll in these plants helps to distinguish these phytoplankton "blooms" from plant-free ocean water.
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