The principal focus of this volume is to illustrate the level of accuracy currently achievable by ab initio quantum chemical calculations. While new developments in theory are discussed to some extent, the major emphasis is on a comparison of calculated properties with experiments. This focus is similar to the one taken in the book, Comparison of Ab Initio Quantum Chemistry with Experiment for Small Molecules, edited by Rodney Bartlett (Reidel, 1984). However, the phenomenal improvement in both theoretical methods and computer architecture have made it possible to obtain accurate results for...

The theoretical chemist is accustomed to judging the success of a theoretical prediction according to how well it agrees with an experimental measurement. Since the object of theory is the prediction of the results of experiment, that would appear to be an entirely satisfactory state ofaffairs. However, ifit is true that "the underlying physicallaws ...for the whole ofchemistryare ...completely known" (1), thenit shouldbepossible,atleastinprinciple, topredict theresults of experiment moreaccurately than they canbe measured. Ifthe theoreticalchemist could obtain exact solutions ofthe...