Question: Why is a orange, orange?

Sarah Martin answered on 21 Jun 2012:

Hi Cassie!

It’s because orange molecules, like carotenoids in carrots, absorb blue and green light, and only leave red and yellow light to be reflected back so you can see it!
Here’s a graph of lots of different molecules and the light they absorb – check the yellow line, where carotenoids absorb lots of blue and green! The others are in leaves, and absorb blue and red, so leaves are green!

🙂 Sarah