Why do plants use chlorophyll for energy production when a black chemical would be more efficient?

Doesn't the fact chlorophyll reflects green light make it less efficient at absorbing energy than a darker chemical? Plants seem to be green the world over, regardless of the amount of sunlight available - why aren't they shades of grey? (i.e. lighter in regions where there is 'too much' light, and darker in regions where there is less light available)

Why do plants use chlorophyll for energy production when a black chemical would be more efficient?
The relevant colours for the absorption of sunlight to convert light energy to chemical energy are first of all green, but yellow, red and orange too.

Additional the chlorophyll-molecule has a very stabile structure ,so that it could survive in the long time of evolution.

If You like to see a very good site about the complete mechanism, look here:

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Courses/bio104...
Reply:Nature knows best.
Reply:Because nobody told them. I suggest you step outside right now and start explaining all this to the chlorophyll guzzling flora. They'll be grateful, really. Especially the trees. You should talk to the trees.
Reply:Hummm, that's got me thinking about people.

Why are people dark skinned in Africa %26amp; other hot areas, it's hot enough without your own body sucking the heat into you.

And inuits/eskimoes %26amp; other cold climates have white/pink skin surly dark skin would be best to suck the little sunlight there is towards you. :-o



I know realy, dark skin (mellonin) is needed in hot places to protect the body from skin cancer. ;-p
Reply:Black, or darker shades will absorb to much light and heat that will kill the plant. Green is at the middle, it absorbs light and heat in proper amounts for plant growth. Look at the rainbow,

Red Orange Yellow "Green" Blue Indigo Violet...green is at the middle.