Electron donor

Electron donor

An electron donor is a chemical entity that donates electrons to another compound. It is a reducing agent that, by virtue of its donating electrons, is itself oxidized in the process.

Electron donors give up or donate an electron during cellular respiration, resulting in the release of energy. Microorganisms, such as bacteria, obtain energy to grow by transferring electrons from an electron donor to an electron acceptor. The microorganism through its cellular machinery collects the energy for its use. The final result is the electron is donated to an electron acceptor. During this process (electron transport chain) the electron donor is oxidized and the electron acceptor is reduced. Petroleum hydrocarbons, less chlorinated solvents like vinyl chloride, soil organic matter, and reduced inorganic compounds are all compounds that can act as electron donors. These reactions are of interest not only because they allow organisms to obtain energy, but also because they are involved in the natural biodegradation of organic contaminants. When clean-up professionals use monitored natural attenuation to clean up contaminated sites, biodegradation is one of the major contributing processes.

See also

*Semiconductor

ources

* [http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/electron_donor.html United States Geological Survey]
* [http://iaspub.epa.gov/trs/trs_proc_qry.navigate_term?p_term_id=290756&p_term_cd=TERMDIS Environmental Protection Agency]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • electron donor —  Electron Donor  Донор электрона   Молекула, легко отдающая электрон и при этом окисляющаяся …   Толковый англо-русский словарь по нанотехнологии. - М.

  • Electron transport chain — The electron transport chain in the mitochondrion is the site of oxidative phosphorylation in eukaryotes. The NADH and succinate generated in the citric acid cycle are oxidized, providing energy to power ATP synthase …   Wikipedia

  • Electron acceptor — An electron acceptor is a chemical entity that accepts electrons transferred to it from another compound. It is an oxidizing agent that, by virtue of its accepting electrons, is itself reduced in the process.… …   Wikipedia

  • Donor — A donor in general is a person who donates something voluntarily. Usually used to represent a form of pure altruism but sometimes used when the payment for a service is recognised by all parties as representing less than the value of the donation …   Wikipedia

  • Donor (semiconductors) — In semiconductor physics, a donor is a dopant atom that, when added to a semiconductor, can form n type regions. Phosphorus atom acting as a donor in the simplified 2D Silicon lattice. For example, when silicon (Si), having four valence electrons …   Wikipedia

  • donor — DONÓR, donori, s.m. 1. (fiz.) Atom pentavalent care, introdus într un semiconductor, cedează electroni acceptorului. 2. (biol.) Individ care cedează celule, cromozomi etc. – Din fr. donneur, engl. donor. Trimis de LauraGellner, 19.06.2004. Sursa …   Dicționar Român

  • Electron mobility — This article is about the mobility for electrons and holes in metals and semiconductors. For the general concept, see Electrical mobility. In solid state physics, the electron mobility characterizes how quickly an electron can move through a… …   Wikipedia

  • donor — n. 1 a person who gives or donates something (e.g. to a charity). 2 one who provides blood for a transfusion, semen for insemination, or an organ or tissue for transplantation. 3 Chem. an atom or molecule that provides a pair of electrons in… …   Useful english dictionary

  • electron transport chain — A series of compounds that transfer electrons to an eventual donor with concomitant energy conversion. One of the best studied is in the mitochondrial inner membrane, that takes NADH (from the tricarboxylic acid cycle) or FADH and transfers… …   Dictionary of molecular biology

  • Donor —   In a solar photovoltaic device, an n type dopant, such as phosphorus, that puts an additional electron into an energy level very near the conduction band; this electron is easily exited into the conduction band where it increases the electrical …   Energy terms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”