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for my master thesis I calculated some ring strains with MP2 calculation. It was not hard to calculate these things but I'm struggling to understand what the theory is about. Now I'm defending my work and I'm affraid that my professor asks questions about it.

So is there an "easy" way (not really easy but maybe without some hardcore quantum mechanics) to expain the MP2 calculation so an organic chemist can understand it?

Are there any good reasons to use MP2 instead of B3LYP or other DFT calculations? A friend in theoretical chemistry suggested MP2 but we never talked about why.

Thank you for your answers.

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closed as too broad by Feodoran, Jon Custer, Todd Minehardt, Mithoron, Tyberius May 7 at 18:49

Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. Avoid asking multiple distinct questions at once. See the How to Ask page for help clarifying this question. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.

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    $\begingroup$ MP2 and perturbation theory should be easy to find in standard quantum chemistry textbooks. For an "easy" explanation you might just consider the initial idea in the beginning of the chapter and the final results at the end. If you have any specific questions about the derivation in between, the right place to ask is here ;) $\endgroup$ – Feodoran May 7 at 7:28
  • $\begingroup$ Related in terms of derivation: How to find the second order perturbation to wave function? $\endgroup$ – Martin - マーチン♦ May 7 at 18:24