"Chemical Achievement and Hope for the Future" Offprint from The Smithsonian Report for 1950, pages 225-241
Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institute, Government Printing Office, 1950. 1st Edition. Hardcover. SILLIMAN LECTURE DELIVERED SEVEN YEARS BEFORE PAULING'S NOBEL PRIZE. This publication reprints Linus Pauling's 1947 Silliman Lecture, delivered at Yale University in the fall. In this leture "Reflecting on Chemical Achievement and Hope for the Future" Pauling began by analyzing the past century of progress in chemistry, a period marked by a shift from an empirical and descriptive discipline to one grounded in theoretical precision. To illustrate this transformation, Pauling highlighted advances in chemical thermodynamics, a field that had evolved alongside a deeper understanding of molecular structure and other recent discoveries. He also noted that precise atomic weights had been assigned to most elements, and many predicted by Mendeleev s periodic table had been identified, including the noble gases and newly synthesized elements. Pauling then reviewed major advancements in various branches of chemistry over the previous century. In inorganic chemistry, he pointed to a greater comprehension of molecular structures, particularly those necessary for synthesizing silicon-based materials that mimic carbon-based compounds. These innovations led to the creation of synthetic diamond and rubber, both of which had significant industrial applications. In organic chemistry, Pauling observed the convergence of the practical art of organic chemistry with the more theoretical science of organic chemistry, a unification he regarded as the field s most notable achievement. One of its major practical outcomes was the ability to develop new plastics, transforming industries and daily life. However, Pauling regarded biomedical chemistry as the domain with the most profound breakthroughs. Over the previous fifty years, average life expectancy had increased by sixteen years, and childhood mortality had dropped by 90% within the last quarter-century. Many diseases had been controlled or nearly eradicated, though challenges remained, such as polio, influenza, and degenerative conditions like cancer and heart disease. Looking ahead, Pauling stressed the importance of research into the structural basis of physiological activity, which he saw as chemistry's most pressing challenge. Advances in this area, he believed, would yield deeper insights into the behavior of antigens, proteins, enzymes, and other immunochemical agents, paving the way for rapid medical progress. PUBLICATION DETAILS AND CONDITION: Offprint from The Smithsonian Report for 1950, pages 225-241. 8vo offprint E condition. PROVENANCE: From the Arthur C. Greenberg History of Chemistry Collection. Fine / No Jacket. Item #EBS100410
Price: $60.00