Abstract
When electron pair correlations are incorporated into generalized valence bond wave functions, the necessary and sufficient wave functions for the quantitative description of chemical reactions are achieved. The resulting electron pair correlation functions are shown to be invariant; hence the generalized valence bond orbitals contain all the information in the correlated wave functions. In the case of pair correlation energies, this information is expressed through a simple function of the orbital overlaps. The resulting overlap approximation is applied to ground states, excited states, and transition states for chemical reactions. In all cases the exact energy is reproduced to within 0.5 kcal/mol (0.001 hartree). The pairwise correlated generalized valence bond method provides an opportunity to accurately predict reaction pathways for system of chemical interest.