What Does "Electron Carrier" Mean?

[leoneri]

Hi all, I have a very basic question. I see a lot of "electron carriers" or "carrier electrons" terminologies. What does they actually means?

Are they telling that electron as carrier for current? Because I thought that current is electrons that move from a point to another point, and that's it. I do not see that they 'carry' anything. Well, of course they have force such as from interaction between electrons etc., and they have energy. But, 'to carry' something??

I don't get it, is it just physics frenzy words or does this terminology actually have a physical meaning?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Astronuc]

In what context is the term "carrier electrons" or "electron carrier" used?

In biology for example, an "electron carrier" is a molecule that can accept and donate electrons from and to various enzymes.
http://www.biochem.northwestern.edu/holmgren/Glossary/Definitions/Def-E/electron_carrier.html

A molecule capable of accepting one (or more than one) electrons from another molecule (electron donor), and then ferry these electrons to donate to another during the process of electron transport.

Supplement

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an example of electron carrier. It carries electrons in redox reactions within the cells.

http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Electron_carriers

Electron transport chain - http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/596electransport.html


In electrical systems, the electron is a (-) negative charge carrier. The current is simply the flow of electrons in a 'conductor'. Note that the electrical current (a vector) points in the opposite direction of flow of electrons, because someone long ago determined that 'current' is the flow of + charge.

 

[leoneri]

Thank you for your explanation. Now I understand what it means by 'carrier'. It is true that it depends on the context. The reason when I asked this is related to transistor. It was mention that 'electron is carrying current', some people say that electron is the carrier. So it all depends on what being carried and what carried it. Really .. sometimes a simple terminology could make a huge difference in the physical concept. So, thanks again.