Validation of Chemical Bonding by Charge-Density Descriptors: The Current Scenario

Electron-density distribution influences the chemical and physical properties of a material. Modern experimental and theoretical charge-density methods have become reliable in determining the nature of chemical bonding. Latest developments in the field of X-ray sources, detector technologies, and new analytical descriptors have helped it evolve over the years as a dynamic area of advanced crystallography. This review provides a short introduction to charge-density methods and highlights recent experimental results to understand the chemical concepts and material properties better. Potential applications of charge-density analysis and possible directions are discussed.