More conjugated compounds absorb higher wavelengths/lower energies because as the wavelength increases the HOMO/LUMO gap (ΔE) decreases which is due to the compression of multiple molecular orbitals (ψ). According to Klein, the Ketchup stain (lycopene) on a shirt and upon application of bleach (NaClO), it breaks lycopene’s conjugation, therefore causing a decrease in conjugation; which directly correlates to the stain no longer being visible to the eye but when illuminating the shirt with ultraviolet light the stain is visible again. Moreover, in order for an organic compound to absorb the visible light region, it must be conjugated…the degree of conjugation directly correlates to the electromagnetic spectrum’s wavelength and frequency.
Polymer
Polymer