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Historical Bibliography Updated: June 17, 2026

The nature of the chemical bond and the structure of molecules and crystals: An introduction to modern structural chemistry.

Publication Details

Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 1939 CE.

This book set forth in detail Pauling's valence-bond theory based on the quantum-mechanical concept of resonance between two energy states, which led to his highly innovative idea that the hybridization of orbitals (electron waves) between atoms is what makes molecular structure possible. Pauling’s work “taught a couple of generations of chemists that the sizes and electrical charges of atoms determine exactly [emphasis mine] their arrangement in molecules” (Judson, The Eighth Day of Creation, p. 57). For further information see the entry at HistoryofInformation.com at this link.

Catalog MetadataReference Information
Entry Number#6914
Permanent Linkhttps://hom-sveltekit.fly.dev/entry/9079
Author Bio LinkWikipedia ↗
External URLthe-nature-of-the-chemical-bond-and-the-structure-of-molecules-and-crystals-an-introduction-to-modern-structural-chemistry

Geographic Context

Publication place: Ithaca, NY