Marcus theory

Marcus theory explains how electrons transfer between molecules, a fundamental process in chemistry and biology. It describes how the rate of electron transfer depends on the energy difference between the initial and final states and the energy needed to reorganize the surroundings (like solvents or molecular structures) before transfer occurs. Essentially, it suggests there's an optimal level of energy mismatch where transfer is fastest. If the energy gap is too small or too large, the process slows down. This theory helps predict and understand reactions like metabolism, corrosion, and material conductivity.