Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

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Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?
Author: David J. Sheley
Eden Communications

What happens inside the leaf?
Think of leaves as being like little solar panels for trees. Just as solar cells use light to produce electric energy, leaves use light from the sun to produce food for trees. This process is known as photosynthesis, which means "to put together with light." When light enters the leaf, a special part called a chloroplast (klo-ro-plast), uses the light to change carbon dioxide and water into breathable oxygen and a sugar called glucose. Inside the chloroplast is a chemical called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is very important, because it is the chemical that allows photosynthesis to take place, and it gives leaves their green color.

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