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Electron Transfer Theory

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Encyclopedia of Biophysics

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Synonyms

Marcus theory

Definition

Electron transfer theory describes the parameters which control the rate at which an electron is transferred from an electron donor to an electron acceptor.

Introduction

Electron transfer is a fundamental process which plays a central role in physics, chemistry, and biology. Biological electron transfer reactions are required for respiration, photosynthesis, and redox reactions of intermediary metabolism. Unlike typical chemical reactions, electron transfer reactions do not involve the making or breaking of bonds. Electron transfer theory describes the physical parameters that define the rates at which electron transfer reactions occur.

Electron Transfer Theory

Chemical reactions are described by the Arrhenius equation (Eq. 1) which defines to what extent the rate constant (k) of the reaction will depend upon the temperature T and activation energy (Ea). Electron transfer theory is a modified form of transition-state theory (Eq. 2), which is developed...

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

    Victor L. Davidson

Authors
  1. Victor L. Davidson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Victor L. Davidson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University Leicester MRC Centre, Leicester, United Kingdom

    Gordon Roberts

  2. Dept Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom

    Anthony Watts

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© 2018 European Biophysical Societies' Association (EBSA)

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Davidson, V.L. (2018). Electron Transfer Theory. In: Roberts, G., Watts, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Biophysics. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35943-9_12-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-35943-9_12-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-35943-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-35943-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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