Name the pigment responsible for capturing light in plants.

Chlorophyll is the primary pigment responsible for capturing light in plants. It is mainly found in the chloroplasts of plant cells, where it plays a crucial role in photosynthesis by absorbing light energy, primarily in the blue and red wavelengths. This energy is then utilized to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen.

Chlorophyll exists in different forms, with chlorophyll a being the most abundant and essential for the photosynthetic process. It is critical for the conversion of light into chemical energy, which sustains the plant and, by extension, the entire ecosystem.

While carotenoids and xanthophylls are also pigments found in plants, they play supportive roles in photosynthesis, such as protecting chlorophyll from photo-damage and capturing additional light energy, enhancing the overall efficiency of the process. Phycobilins are pigments found in some algae, contributing to light capture in those organisms but are not involved in the light absorption of typical higher plants. Thus, chlorophyll is the key pigment that drives the process of photosynthesis in higher plants.