On the consistent use of electrophilicity index and HSAB-based electron transfer and its associated change of energy parameters

►Electrophilicity index and electron transfer parameter are often used inconsistently to each other due to two different definitions for absolute hardness. ► Work function is an appropriate measure of the electronegativity of bulk metal. ► Electron transfer from molecule to metal-surface is proportional to the difference between metal work function and molecular electronegativity.