Electron transfer
From Wikinfo
Electron transfer (ET) is the process by which an electron moves from one atom or molecule to another atom or molecule. They are redox reactions where the formal oxidation states of both reaction partners change (metal ions are uniquely useful for this). ET arises out of nature's need to move electrons (reducing equivalents) or holes (oxidizing equivalents) from one site to another. Numerous essential processes in biology require ET, including: oxygen binding/transport, photosynthesis/respiration, metabolic syntheses, and detoxification of reactive species.
The theory of electron transfer was extensively studied by chemists and physicists. The chemists Henry Taube, Rudolph A. Marcus, Harry Gray, and physicist Revaz Dogonadze contributed greatly to electron transfer theory. There are two main classes of ET: Inner-sphere electron transfer and Outer-Sphere electron transfer. Inner-Sphere ET is defined as electron transfers where a common ligand bridges the two metal redox centers during ET event. Outer sphere ET are reactions where the coordination shells of the two metal redox centers remain intact during the ET.
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References
- Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Electron_transfer" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_transfer, used under the GNU Free Documentation License
