We have developed simple wave functions for two- and three-electron atoms a
nd ions, which have the correct structure when one of the electrons is far
away, or when two of the particles are close to each other. These essential
ly parameter-free wave functions allow us to deduce fairly accurate values
for the energies, [r(2n)], for multipolar polarizabilities of two-electron
atoms and ions, and for the coefficients of the asymptotic density.