Normal (decoupled) representation of electronegativity equalization equations in a molecule

Abstract

The decoupled (normal) representation of the electronegativity (chemical potential) equalization equations, in which the hardness tensor {ηij}={∂μi/∂Nj} becomes diagonal, is examined in the atoms-in-a-molecule (AIM) approximation; μi=∂E/∂Ni is the chemical potential of the i-th AIM, Ni is its electron population, and E is the system energy. All relevant chemical potential, hardness, softness, and Fukui function quantities corresponding to the normal electron redistribution channels, Qy, are discussed and expressed in terms of the canonical AIM parameters. The normal chemical potentials, μγ=∂E/∂Qγ, provide a natural classification of the normal modes into three groups: (a) acceptor normal modes (μa 0, negative mode Fukui function, hardness, and softness), and (c) polarization normal modes (μp=0, zero mode Fukui function, hardness, and softness). The implications of the normal mode analysis for the theory of chemical reactivity are briefly summarized.