The statement that chlorophyll absorbs red light is correct, but it doesn't imply that the rate of photosynthesis is highest in red light. It's true that chlorophyll primarily absorbs light in the red and blue regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, but the rate of photosynthesis is actually highest in the blue light range.
Chlorophyll is the primary pigment responsible for capturing light energy during photosynthesis in plants and other photosynthetic organisms. It absorbs light most efficiently in the red and blue regions of the spectrum. Specifically, chlorophyll absorbs light most strongly in the blue (around 430-450 nanometers) and red (around 640-680 nanometers) wavelengths. These wavelengths correspond to the peaks of the absorption spectra of chlorophyll molecules.
The reason photosynthesis is most efficient in blue light is due to the action spectrum of photosynthesis. The action spectrum shows the efficiency of photosynthesis at different wavelengths of light. While chlorophyll absorbs red light, it turns out that blue light is more effective at driving the chemical reactions involved in photosynthesis.
The action spectrum demonstrates that photosynthesis is most efficient in the blue range, and it decreases as the wavelength increases towards the red region. This doesn't mean that chlorophyll doesn't absorb red light; it simply indicates that the energy from blue light is more effectively utilized in the photosynthetic process.
It's important to note that while blue light is most effective for photosynthesis, plants still use red light efficiently, especially in combination with blue light. The absorption of red light by chlorophyll allows plants to capture a broader range of the light spectrum and maximize their overall energy intake for photosynthesis.