Yes, but not fully true. It depends on the light source which falls.
Not only chemicals are responsible for colour in living organisms. There are other optical phenomena, different from reflection and absorption, namely interferences, which produce colour, for instance in scales of butterfly wings.
Dear Susan
This question open a whole new gate into the fascinating subject of colours in life.
I would like to start in saying something general about life. Not everything in life can be measured like some people like. if someone like to measure love they would fall into statements like: "love is a storm of chemicals in the brain." etc... life is a wonder and a mystery and yes a lot been discovered about life but a lot more haven't, which give everyone plenty of research to do in the next ions - thanks God.
My teacher used to say; "Colour is the life of life". and in did; there is no movement of energy in the universe unless it is accompanied by mater and colour is the most refined form of matter I know of - even if many will argue with that. And colours are everywhere: Just looking at the photos from the space telescope what you see is a whole plasma of moving colours which is so fascinating. In my view chemicals are condense forms of energy that slowed down enough to become what we call matter. even though every atom is a powerhouse of strong forces.
What is the "photo-electric effect" of Einstein? is it not colour and energy and movement. I also love the term: "Photons in Love". which is another research that is opening now more and more and can lead us everywhere.
Thank you, hope is add some more colour into the whole subject.
Erez
For an introductory physics perspective to the colours of minerals and materials, thus not centred in life, it is worth to read: Kurt Nassau, "The causes of color", Scientific American, 243(4), October 1980, pp. 106-123 and 182.
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