The valence quality of contracted (C) Gaussian-type function (GTF) basis sets in molecular calculations is discussed for the first- through fourth-row atoms. The split-valence basis sets derived from minimal-type CGTF sets are compared with those derived from primitive (P) GTF sets. Using F, Cl, Br, and I atoms and their homonuclear diatomics as test species, we find that the split-valence CGTF sets have almost the same quality as PGTF sets with larger s and p expansion terms: For example, the (53/5), (533/53), (5333/533/5), and (53 333/5333/53) CGTF sets correspond approximately to the [9/5], [15/9], [19/15/5], and [22/18/7] PGTF sets for the first- to fourth-row atoms, respectively, where the slash separates the s, p, and d symmetries. For the main group atoms of the four rows, we recommend using the above-mentioned CGTFs or larger. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.