Abstract: To a certain extent, conventional Linus Pauling chemical bonding theory is a physics-free zone. Two notable examples of this physicsless tendency in chemistry are a covalent bond and electronegativity. According to Pauling, a covalent bond involves “the sharing of two electrons by two atoms.” OK. So what? Knowing this, what have I gained? How do I move forward from here?
Pauling defines electronegativity as “the power of an atom in a molecule to attract electrons to itself.” Huh? “Power” in watts; does this help? What is the nature of this mysterious “attraction”; perfume? Chemistry can leave a physicist frustrated, flummoxed, and (sometimes) furious.

The problem here, I believe, goes back to the Linus Pauling’s 1926-1927 Guggenheim Fellowship adventures in Europe. Two of Linus’ European physics buddies, Walter Heitler and Fritz London (who were post-docing with Schrödinger), wrote a paper on a quantum mechanical treatment of the H₂ molecule. They found H₂ bond formation to depend on a mathematial integral involving two electrons exchanging places (hence, the name exchange integral) but they were “very far from a real understanding of this phenomenon.” Pauling gave them an interpretation of what the exchange integral might mean. However, I believe Pauling’s interpretation is incorrect.

The aim of this presentation is first to correct Pauling’s mistake and to develop a dynamic, approach to chemical bonding in contrast to Pauling’s static theory. Next, the utility of this dynamic approach is demonstrated by exploring gas phase chemical bonding trends, electron delocalization in organic and DNA molecules, hydrogen bridge bonds, and the physics molecular hydrogen
bonding. A key feature of this approach is inclusion of physics into chemical bond theory.

Bio: Prior to his January 2018 retirement, John F. Wager held the Michael and Judith Gaulke Endowed Chair in the School of EECS at Oregon State University. Transparent electronics technology developed in his group at OSU was licensed to Hewlett-Packard Company who continued advanced joint-development with his group. This technology is now used extensively in flat-panel display thin-film transistor backplanes. In retirement, he occasionally dabbles in thin-film transistor device physics and in the physics of chemical bonding.