In: Biology
Explain what molecule would serve as an electron donor and what would serve as an electron acceptor given E°' for each
E° (standard reduction potential) of a compound represents the measurement of the tendency of receiving electron by the compound. A compound with more negative value of E° have greater tendency to donate electron and least tendency to receive electron. A compound with less negative or even positive E° value will have weak tendency to donate electron and greater tendency to receive electron.
Thus, a compound can be either electron donor or electron acceptor depending on the value of E° of other compounds in the reaction.
For example in the reaction couple 1/2 O2/ H2O, water (E° for hydrogen = 0.00) is electron donor and oxygen (E° = +1.23) is electron acceptor.