What is the role of chlorophyll in plants?

Chlorophyll plays a critical role in the process of photosynthesis, serving as the primary pigment that allows plants to capture sunlight. This pigment is found mainly in the chloroplasts of plant cells and gives plants their green color. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorbs light energy, primarily from the blue and red wavelengths of light, which is then used to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This process is essential for plants because it enables them to produce their own food, which is the foundation of the food chain for many organisms, including humans.

The other options pertain to different functions in plants: absorbing water is the role of roots, storing nutrients occurs in various tissues during the growing season and can involve different structures, and respiration is primarily a process that takes place in all living cells, including roots, but does not involve chlorophyll. Thus, the ability of chlorophyll to capture sunlight specifically aligns with its vital function in photosynthesis.