Linus Pauling
Background • Born in Portland, Oregon, on February 28, 1901 - Son of a pharmacist • Attended Oregon State College in 1917, receiving the degree of B.Sc. in chemical engineering in 1922. • In 1925 he was awarded the Ph.D. in chemistry by California Institute of Technology (CalTech) - Research focused on how the physical and chemical properties of substances are related to the structure of the atoms of which they are composed • Married wife Ava Helen Miller on June 17, 1923 - Had three sons and a daughter - Sons went on to become scientists and researchers
Career • Interest in how chemical structure and properties related to atom’s and their electrons began in graduate school - This interest became the new field of “Quantum Chemistry” • In 1926 he went to Europe to study under pioneers in the emerging field of Quantum Chemistry - Arnold Sommerfeld - Niels Bohr - Erwin Schrodinger
Career • While in Europe, began to focus his interests in understanding the electronic structure of the chemical bond - The basis of his studies and calculations was focused on the orbitals involved in bonds and their energies • In 1932 Pauling publishes what is considered to be his most important paper which focuses on two key topics: - The concept of the hybridization of atomic orbitals - Analysis of the tetravalency of the carbon atom
Career • In 1939 Pauling publishes his textbook The Nature of the Chemical Bond - One of the most influential chemistry books ever published - In the 30 years after its first edition was published, the book was cited more than 16,000 times • In 1954 is awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: "for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and its implication to the elucidation of the structure of complex substances".
Career • Pauling’s study of the chemical bond focuses on three major areas: 1.) The concept of hybridized atomic orbitals - atomic orbitals can combine in different schemes - hybridization of orbitals explains how bonding occurs in both simple and complex molecules 2.) The differentiation between ionic and covalent bonds - in ionic bonds, electrons are transferred - in covalent bonds, electrons are shared 3.) Bonding in the structures of aromatic hydrocarbons - the concept of resonance: that the “true” structure of a molecule can sometimes be thought of as a blend of multiple structures
Interesting Facts • In 1962, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. - The only person to be awarded two unshared Nobel Prizes - One of only four individuals to have won more than one Nobel Prize - One of only two people to be awarded Nobel Prizes in different fields, the other being Marie Curie • Later in life was criticized as being “arguably the world's greatest quack” for his beliefs that dietary supplements could cure diseases - Namely, that Vitamin C could prevent colds • Linus Pauling died on August 19, 1994 at 93
Works Cited "Linus Pauling." 2013. The Biography Channel website. Sep 16 2013. <http://www.biography.com/people/linus-pauling-9435195> "Linus Pauling - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 17 Sep 2013. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1954/pauling-bio.html> “ Linus Pauling Online”. Oregon State University. Oregon State University. Web. 17 Sep 2013. <http://pauling.library.oregonstate.edu/>
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