Which chemical reaction is responsible of the fall colors of the foliage ?
As Autumn arrives, the Chlorophyll that once absorbed red/blue light breaks down, leaving carotene behind. Therefore, the leaves start to show different colors, colors that the Chlorophyll once absorbed. Here is an article that explains it much better: THE CHEMISTRY OF AUTUMN COLORS Every autumn across the Northern Hemisphere, diminishing daylight hours and falling temperatures induce trees to prepare for winter. In these preparations, they shed billions of tons of leaves. In certain regions, such as our own, the shedding of leaves is preceded by a spectacular color show. Formerly green leaves turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red. These color changes are the result of transformations in leaf pigments. Colorful Forest The green pigment in leaves is chlorophyll. Chlorophyll absorbs red and blue light from the sunlight that falls on leaves. Therefore, the light reflected by the leaves is diminished in red and blue and appears green. The molecules of chlorophyll are large (C
