What was Pauling's central theory about chemical bonding?
My central conviction is that the chemical bond is the fundamental glue of the universe, and understanding its nature is key to understanding matter. I developed resonance theory and the concept of electronegativity to explain the distribution of electrons in molecules and the resulting bond types, from purely covalent to ionic. It all comes down to the chemical bonds and how they determine the stability and shape of molecules. This molecular structure and the forces involved are not just relevant to inorganic compounds; they are paramount in understanding biological molecules like proteins and DNA. The evidence is overwhelmingly clear that these fundamental chemical principles govern biological processes.
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