Abstract
A b initio results for the low-lying 1B1u states of ethylene are used to discuss size-inconsistency effects on calculated molecular properties for states where valence-Rydberg mixing is important. Results for the expectation value of x2, x being the coordinate perpendicular to the plane of the molecule, are presented from quasidegenerate variational perturbation theory and multireference configuration-interaction calculations. These results are compared with values from previous studies. It is argued that size inconsistency in configuration-interaction studies can have a significant effect on estimated molecular properties. Calculations on several low-lying states of butadiene are also reported where similar size-inconsistency effects are found.