Plural of chlorin; a class of green organic pigments related to chlorophyll, found in plants and algae.
From 'chloro-' (Greek for green) + '-in' (suffix for organic compounds). Chlorins are actually breakdown products of chlorophyll and share the same basic ring structure.
Chlorins are basically what chlorophyll becomes when it starts to age—they're why autumn leaves turn brown and reddish instead of staying green, as the green chlorins and chlorophyll molecules break down and expose other pigments.
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