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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Chlor root word examples: what the prefix means

Quick, free quiz on chlor prefix meaning. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Jason SprengerUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of science roots quiz with chlor root word prefix and suffix puzzles on a golden yellow background

This quick quiz helps you learn what the chlor prefix means and spot it in real words. If you want more practice with word parts, try our prefix quiz, explore hydro prefix quiz for another key root, or challenge yourself with a root word quiz.

What does the root "chlor-" in scientific terminology most commonly mean?
White
Green
Red
Blue
The Greek root chloros means green. Terms like chlorophyll and chloroplast incorporate this root to denote green pigment or structure. This root appears in many biology and chemistry terms related to green coloration.
Which plant pigment's name incorporates the root "chlor-" and is responsible for the green color of leaves?
Xanthophyll
Chlorophyll
Carotene
Anthocyanin
Chlorophyll is named with the root 'chlor-' to highlight its green color, which is crucial for capturing light in photosynthesis. Other pigments like carotene and xanthophyll are yellow or orange.
Which cell organelle's name includes the root "chlor-" because it contains chlorophyll?
Nucleus
Chloroplast
Ribosome
Mitochondrion
Chloroplasts are named for their green chlorophyll content ('chlor-') and the suffix '-plast', meaning formed or molded. They are the sites of photosynthesis in plant cells.
Chlorosis, which contains the root "chlor-", refers to a plant condition characterized by what?
Yellowing of leaves due to lack of chlorophyll
Fungal infection causing spots
Excessive green pigmentation
Overgrowth of green plant tissue
Chlorosis literally means 'becoming green', paradoxically describing leaves turning yellow from chlorophyll loss. It often indicates nutrient deficiencies or disease.
The element chlorine is named for its color indicated by the root "chlor-". What color is chlorine gas?
Deep red
Colorless
Greenish-yellow
Bright blue
Chlorine gas has a yellow-green color, which inspired its name from the Greek 'chloros' for greenish-yellow. Its distinctive hue is characteristic of many chlorine compounds.
Which of the following words does NOT contain the root "chlor-"?
Chlorine
Cholesterol
Chloroplast
Chlorophyll
Cholesterol derives from 'chole-' meaning bile, not 'chlor-' for green. The other terms all include 'chlor-' referring to green coloration or the element chlorine.
Which common household disinfectant's active ingredient is sodium hypochlorite?
Bleach
Hydrogen peroxide
Ammonia
Vinegar
Household bleach typically contains sodium hypochlorite, with the 'chlor-' root referencing chlorine. It acts as a powerful oxidizer and disinfectant.
Which compound with the root "chloro-" was historically used as an anesthetic?
Nitrous oxide
Ether
Chloroform
Ethanol
Chloroform (trichloromethane) was widely used as an anesthetic in the 19th century. Its name contains 'chloro-' denoting chlorine atoms and '-form' from its relation to formyl.
Which photosynthetic organisms primarily use chlorophyll c instead of chlorophyll b?
Brown algae and diatoms
Red algae
Cyanobacteria
Green plants
Brown algae and diatoms use chlorophyll c as an accessory pigment instead of chlorophyll b. This pigment helps them harvest different wavelengths of light.
What structural component differentiates chlorophyll b from chlorophyll a?
An additional magnesium atom
A formyl group in place of a methyl group
The absence of a porphyrin ring
An extra phosphate group
Chlorophyll b differs from chlorophyll a by having a formyl (-CHO) group where chlorophyll a has a methyl (-CH3) group on the chlorin ring. This changes its absorption spectrum.
The root "chloro-" appears in the term "chloramine." What is a chloramine?
A green pigment in plants
A fungal toxin
A compound of chlorine and ammonia used as a disinfectant
A type of acid
Chloramines are compounds formed by replacing hydrogen in ammonia with chlorine atoms. They are used in water treatment and disinfection.
In cell biology, what does the term "chlorenchyma" refer to?
Vascular tissue in roots
Photosynthetic tissue formed by parenchyma cells containing chloroplasts
Fiber cells in bark
Storage tissue of seeds
Chlorenchyma is a type of parenchyma cell enriched with chloroplasts where photosynthesis occurs, combining 'chlor-' for green and '-enchyma' for infusion or tissue.
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is related to the root chlor-. What is hypochlorous acid commonly used for?
Fuel
Food flavoring
Fertilizer
Bleaching and disinfection
Hypochlorous acid is a powerful oxidizer used for bleaching and disinfecting surfaces and water. Its name reflects its content of chlorine in a low oxidation state.
In the classification of oxyanions of chlorine, which ion is the chlorate ion?
ClO3 -
ClO4 -
ClO2 -
ClO -
The chlorate ion is ClO3 - , where chlorine is in a +5 oxidation state. Chlorite is ClO2 - and perchlorate is ClO4 - .
The deficiency of which nutrient often leads to chlorosis, derived from the root chlor-, in plants?
Calcium
Nitrogen
Iron
Potassium
Iron deficiency commonly causes chlorosis, where leaves turn yellow due to impaired chlorophyll production. The term reflects the loss of green pigment.
Which metal ion is centrally coordinated in the chlorin ring of chlorophyll?
Iron
Zinc
Copper
Magnesium
Magnesium sits at the center of chlorophyll's chlorin ring, playing a key role in capturing light energy for photosynthesis. This distinguishes chlorophyll from heme, which contains iron.
Chlorophyll a and b differ by which functional group on the chlorin ring?
Chlorophyll b has one fewer double bond
Chlorophyll b contains an extra phosphate
Chlorophyll b lacks the central magnesium
Chlorophyll b has a formyl group replacing a methyl group
The structural difference between chlorophyll a and b is a formyl (-CHO) group in place of a methyl (-CH3) group on one pyrrole ring. This shifts chlorophyll b's absorption spectrum slightly.
Which wavelength corresponds to a major absorption peak of chlorophyll a in the red region?
Around 720 nm
Around 480 nm
Around 662 nm
Around 550 nm
Chlorophyll a has a significant absorption peak near 662 nm in the red region of the spectrum, critical for photosynthesis. It also absorbs in the blue around 430 nm.
Which rare chlorophyll type found in some red algae contains the root 'chlor-' in its name?
Chlorophyll d
Chlorophyll f
Chlorophyll g
Chlorophyll e
Chlorophyll d is found in certain red algae and absorbs farther into the infrared than chlorophyll a and b. Its designation reflects its discovery sequence.
The term "chloroplast" combines 'chlor-' with the suffix '-plast'. What does '-plast' refer to?
Something formed or molded
A pigment
A membrane
A light-absorbing center
The suffix '-plast' comes from Greek 'plastos', meaning formed or molded. Chloroplast literally means a formed green body where photosynthesis occurs.
In the family of chlorine oxyanions, what is the oxidation state of chlorine in the perchlorate ion (ClO4 - )?
+5
+3
+1
+7
In perchlorate (ClO4 - ), chlorine has its highest common oxidation state of +7. Chlorate is +5 and chlorite is +3.
What is the name for the stacked structures of thylakoid membranes where chlorophyll is located?
Matrix
Lamellae
Stroma
Grana
Grana are stacks of thylakoid membranes in chloroplasts containing chlorophyll and other photosynthetic complexes. The stroma is the fluid surrounding grana.
Chloroform, which contains the root "chloro-", was historically named for which of its characteristic properties?
Its greenish color in impure samples
Its lack of odor
Its high boiling point
Its sweet smell
Early preparations of chloroform often had a pale green tint due to impurities, inspiring its name ('chloro-' for green and '-form' for formyl). Pure chloroform is colorless.
The macrocyclic ring in chlorophyll is a chlorin rather than a porphyrin. What structural feature distinguishes a chlorin from a porphyrin?
An additional side chain
Absence of nitrogen atoms
One reduced pyrrole ring in the macrocycle
An extra conjugated double bond
A chlorin has one of the four pyrrole rings partially hydrogenated (reduced), making it a dihydroporphyrin. This slight reduction distinguishes it from the fully conjugated porphyrin.
Photosystem I contains the chlorophyll P700 reaction center. What does "700" refer to in P700?
The molecular weight of the protein complex
The number of amino acids in the binding protein
The number of chlorophyll molecules in the complex
The wavelength in nanometers of its peak light absorption
In photosystem I, 'P700' designates the reaction-center chlorophyll that absorbs maximally at 700 nm. Similar nomenclature is used for P680 in photosystem II.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the Chlor Root Word -

    After completing the science roots quiz, you will be able to define the chlor root word and explain its Greek origin.

  2. Identify Common Science Root Words -

    You will recognize and recall key prefixes and suffixes that form the foundation of common science root words.

  3. Apply Root Word Chlor Meaning -

    You will use your knowledge of root word chlor meaning to interpret and construct accurate biological terms.

  4. Analyze Unfamiliar Scientific Terms -

    By breaking down new vocabulary into roots and affixes, you will deduce the meanings of complex science terms with confidence.

  5. Evaluate Your Biology Root Words Quiz Performance -

    You will measure your mastery by comparing quiz results and identifying areas for improvement in biology root words.

  6. Enhance Science Vocabulary Retention -

    You will adopt study strategies that reinforce memory of science roots and improve long-term retention of technical terminology.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Meaning of the "chlor" Root -

    The root "chlor" comes from the Greek chloros, meaning "green," and appears in words like chlorophyll and chloroform (Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary). Recognizing this connection helps you decode scientific terms by associating "chlor" with green pigments or chlorine-based compounds. Try picturing a green leaf to remember that "chlor" relates to green substances.

  2. Key Examples of Chlor-Derived Terms -

    Chlorophyll (C55H72O5N4Mg) is the green pigment in plants responsible for photosynthesis, while chloroform (CHCl₃) is an early anesthetic agent (PubChem). Noting chemical formulas alongside roots reinforces both vocabulary and the science behind each term. A quick mnemonic: "Chlorophyll Makes Plants Thrill" to remember chlorophyll's role and root.

  3. Building a Science Roots Quiz Strategy -

    When tackling a science roots quiz, categorize roots by field - bio for life, geo for earth, thermo for heat - and quiz yourself in timed intervals (University of California study tips). Flashcards that show the root on one side and definitions/examples on the other boost retention. Use spaced repetition apps like Anki to lock in those common science root words.

  4. Targeted Practice for Biology Root Words Quiz -

    Focus on biology-specific roots such as cyto (cell), histo (tissue), and chlor (green) by grouping them into thematic lists (National Institutes of Health glossary). Write out at least five sample words for each root to solidify your understanding. A helpful trick is to craft a silly sentence - "Cindy's chloroplast cells create colorful chapters" - to tie multiple roots together.

  5. Mastering Root Word Chlor Meaning Across Disciplines -

    Beyond biology, "chlor" appears in environmental science (chlorination) and pharmacology (chloramphenicol), so exploring interdisciplinary examples broadens your vocabulary (American Chemical Society resources). Compare contexts to see how the root shifts meaning slightly based on usage. To memorize, link the concept of "green" to each term - even in non-botanical settings - so "chlor-" always cues you into green or chlorine-related topics.

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