Which one of the following elements is present in the green pigment of

Which one of the following elements is present in the green pigment of leaves ?

Magnesium
Iron
Calcium
Copper
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2017
Magnesium is present in the green pigment of leaves (chlorophyll).
– The green pigment in leaves is called chlorophyll.
– Chlorophyll molecules are crucial for photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
– The core structure of the chlorophyll molecule is a porphyrin ring, similar to the heme group in hemoglobin, but with a central magnesium atom coordinating the nitrogen atoms, whereas hemoglobin has iron at its center.
While iron is essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll, it is not a structural component of the chlorophyll molecule itself. Magnesium is the central metal ion within the chlorophyll structure. Calcium is important for cell wall structure and signaling, and copper is a cofactor in various enzymes.
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