The molecule responsible for the absorption of light energy during photosynthesis is called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a pigment that captures light energy, primarily from the blue and red wavelengths, and converts it into chemical energy.
In photosynthetic cells, chlorophyll is located in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts. The thylakoid membranes are stacked into structures called grana, which are found within the chloroplasts. These membranes contain the photosystems, which are complexes of proteins and pigments, including chlorophyll, that play a crucial role in the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.