Electron-Density Distributions in Inorganic Compounds

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the electron-density distributions in inorganic compounds. It comprises a survey of electron-density studies of inorganic compounds. The compounds included are transition metal complexes, minerals such as oxides, sulfides, and spinels, organometallic compounds, and metals. The measurement of electron density in inorganic compounds is a developing field. Molecular wave functions have conventionally been calculated to obtain molecular energy levels, but now they can be directly compared with the spatial distribution of electrons. Valence electron density, containing chemically important information, is relatively small compared to the total electron density. Electron-density changes due to molecular formation, i.e., charge migration and charge accumulation, are small in magnitude compared to the total electron density.