The
experimental electron density of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP)
crystal in the paraelectric phase (155 K) as well as antiferroelectric
phase (100 K) is obtained from its high resolution X-ray diffraction
data using the maximum entropy method. Marked redistribution of electron
density has been observed in ADP crystals as the crystal temperature is
lowered below the phase transition temperature Tc=148 K. The nature of
very strong O–H–O hydrogen bonds between phosphate anions changes from
an ideal covalent interaction to a polar covalent interaction as the
temperature is altered from 155 to 100 K. The influence of
intermolecular interaction like the dipolar interaction on the electron
density particularly in the intermolecular region is clearly visible in
the electron density maps. One of the most striking features of the
electron density of ADP is the presence of non nuclear maxima (NNM)
within the ‘‘ab’’ planes. It is argued that the appearance of these NNMs
is a normal consequence of the chemical bonding between homonuclear
groups in ADP.