The close ties between organometallic chemistry, surface science, and the solid state

There can be no real divergence between the bonding in a discrete molecule and that in an extended two- or three-dimensional solid. Translational symmetry introduces some complications, a different language, but also some simplifications. The essential continuity of bonding descriptions between organometallic chemistry, surface science and the rich world of three-dimensional extended systems becomes evident when one uses the language of density of states and various partitions thereof. Examples drawn from bulk interstitial carbides and CO on surfaces will illustrate these ideas.