The text begins with the problem of determining the chemical reaction properties by first decomposing complex processes into their elementary components. Next, the problem of two colliding mass points is investigated and relationships between initial conditions and collision outcomes are discussed. The failure of classical approaches to match experimental information is discussed and a quantum formulation of the calculation of the properties of two colliding bodies is provided. The authors go onto describe how the formalism is extended to structured collision partners by discussing the methods used to compute the electronic structure of polyelectronic reactants and products and the formalism of atom diatom reactions. Additionally, the relationships between the features of the potential energy surface and the outcomes of the reactive dynamics, are discussed.