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chromophore

chromophore

1 9.9
A part of a chemical that absorbs light and gives it color
  • noun
  • /ˈkroʊməˌfɔr/
  • Specialized
: cromóforo
  • The chromophore, a light-absorbing molecule, sits in a pocket inside the opsin, a protein.

And you you put a chromophore in to absorb the laser light.

Examples

  • Visual pigments contain a chromophore that is crucial for detecting light and enabling vision.

  • Visual pigments have two components: a chromophore and an opsin.

    Academic text (2009)
  • And you you put a chromophore in to absorb the laser light.

  • If the opsin remains the same but the chromophore changes, the pigment will alter its sensitivity to light.

    Academic text (2009)
  • When light strikes, the chromophore absorbs a photon and suddenly causes the opsin to change shape.

    Blog text (15)
  • The pigments are made up of proteins called opsins and a small molecule called a chromophore, which in people is a chemical derivative of vitamin A.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The stability of the chromophore is essential for its ability to absorb light effectively.

  • In many organisms, the chromophore is responsible for the vibrant colors seen in their tissues.

Surface Forms

chromophore singular
chromophores plural

Morphology

chromophore = chroma (semi-transparent) = chromo + phore

Meaning is compositionally 'color-bearing' (chroma + -phore) but both elements are technical combining forms unfamiliar to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Chromophore comes from Greek parts chromo- 'color' (seen in chrome and chromatic) and -phore 'to carry'. So a chromophore is the part of a molecule that 'carries' or makes its color by taking in certain light.