Issues for Current Textbooks on Quantum Chemistry in Japan

Abstract

Elementary textbooks on quantum chemistry published for the last dozen years in Japan were surveyed. In the most of the textbooks, Heitler-London theory or simple linear atomic combination-molecular orbital theory is still used to explain the nature of the chemical bond of a hydrogen molecule, which theories were criticized in 1960s. Physical meanings on several problems that many students may have questions were not described in these books. Some of the problems were answered in this paper. Desirable textbooks on quantum chemistry which fit with times were proposed.