What was linus pauling most famous for?

Linus pauling contribution to chemistry

He published more than 1, papers and books, of which about dealt with scientific topics. For his peace activism, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Pauling was one of the founders of the fields of quantum chemistry and molecular biology. Pauling also worked on the structures of biological molecules, and showed the importance of the alpha helix and beta sheet in protein secondary structure.

Pauling's approach combined methods and results from X-ray crystallography , molecular model building, and quantum chemistry. In his later years, he promoted nuclear disarmament , as well as orthomolecular medicine , megavitamin therapy , [ 11 ] and dietary supplements , especially ascorbic acid commonly known as Vitamin C.

None of his ideas concerning the medical usefulness of large doses of vitamins have gained much acceptance in the mainstream scientific community. In , after his sister Pauline was born, Pauling's parents decided to move out of Portland to find more affordable and spacious living quarters than their one-room apartment. Within a year of Lucile's birth in , Herman Pauling moved his family to Oswego, Oregon where he opened his own drugstore.

Pauling attributes his interest in becoming a chemist to being amazed by experiments conducted by a friend, Lloyd A. Jeffress , who had a small chemistry lab kit. In high school, Pauling conducted chemistry experiments by scavenging equipment and material from an abandoned steel plant. They approached local dairies offering to perform butterfat samplings at cheap prices but dairymen were wary of trusting two boys with the task, and the business ended in failure.

Denied, he left Washington High School in June without a diploma. His mother arranged an interview with the owner of a number of manufacturing plants in Portland, Mr. He immediately resigned from the machinist's job and informed his mother, who saw no point in a university education, of his plans.