The Lennard-Jones lecture. The continuing importance of electrostatics in chemistry

Abstract

The use of classical electrostatics in the formulation of useful theorems in quantum-molecular science is illustrated. Insights into the role of penetration into a charge cloud are found to be essential to an understanding of the molecular electrostatic potential. Improved appreciation of the charge distribution around an atom in a molecule results from a fitting of the electric field. The need for charges situated off the nucleus in models of lone-pair atoms is urged. The electrostatic component in intermolecular forces is expressed in simplified form and used to predict solubilities in water.