Which pigment-containing organelle captures light energy for photosynthesis?

• A. Mitochondrion
• B. Chloroplast
• C. Nucleus
• D. Ribosome

Answer: (B)

Chloroplasts are the pigment-containing organelles that capture light energy for photosynthesis. They house chlorophyll and other pigments that absorb light and drive the light-dependent reactions in the thylakoid membranes, producing ATP and NADPH that power the later synthesis of sugars in the Calvin cycle. This is the place where light energy is converted into chemical energy the plant can use.

Mitochondria, on the other hand, are the powerhouses of respiration, turning chemical energy from sugars into ATP without using light. The nucleus contains genetic material, not light-absorbing pigments, and ribosomes build proteins, not capture light energy.