Correlation energy extrapolation by intrinsic scaling. V. Electronic energy, atomization energy, and enthalpy of formation of water.

The method of correlation energy extrapolation by intrinsic scaling, recently introduced to obtain accurate molecular electronic energies, is used to calculate the total nonrelativistic electronic ground state energy of the water molecule. Accurate approximations to the full configuration interaction energies are determined for Dunning's [J. Chem. Phys. 90, 1007 (1989)] correlation-consistent double-, triple- and quadruple-zeta basis sets and then extrapolated to the complete basis set limit. The approach yields the total nonrelativistic energy -76.4390+/-0.0004 hartree, which compares very well with the value of -76.4389 hartree derived from experiment. The energy of atomization is recovered within 0.1 mh. The enthalpy of formation, which is obtained in conjunction with our previous calculation of the dissociation energy of the oxygen molecule, is recovered within 0.05 mh.