Chromophores

Chromophores are specific parts of a molecule responsible for giving it color. They work by absorbing certain wavelengths of light, which determines the color we see. When light hits a compound, the chromophore absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others; the reflected wavelengths are what reach our eyes and define its color. Common in dyes, pigments, and biological molecules, chromophores are essential for processes like photosynthesis and coloring materials. Their structure—such as conjugated double bonds—dictates which wavelengths they absorb, thus controlling the color appearance of substances.