👉 The Marcus fluid, named after physicist Julius Marcus, describes the energy dynamics of electron transfer reactions in chemical systems. It quantifies the rate at which electrons are transferred from a donor molecule to an acceptor molecule, highlighting the role of reorganization energy and the driving force of the reaction. The Marcus theory posits that electron transfer efficiency is influenced by the overlap of molecular orbitals and the extent of structural changes in the reactants during the electron exchange. According to Marcus theory, the rate of electron transfer increases with the driving force of the reaction but decreases as the reorganization energy becomes too high, indicating a balance between favorable driving force and sufficient structural flexibility. This model is crucial for understanding and predicting electron transfer processes in biological systems, such as photosynthesis and enzyme catalysis.
