Linus Pauling was born in Portland, Oregon, where he received his early education. In 1922 he finished his undergraduate studies with a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Oregon Agricultural College (currently called Oregon State University). Continuing his education, Pauling attended the California Institute of Technology where, in 1925, he received a Ph. D. in chemistry and mathematical physics. It was clear that Pauling had a great interest in the study and interactions of the atom, as soon after he received his Ph. D., he traveled to Europe to join physicists studying the mechanics of atomic structure.
Once he returned from Europe, Pauling joined the faculty of his post-graduate school in 1927. There, he continued his studies of chemical bonds between atoms. He was able to use his math skills to calculate bond angles and distances between particular atoms in order to determine trends. As he discovered more trends in his research, he formed generalizations concerning the atomic arrangements in ionic structures, which were called "Pauling's Rules". His rules were of great use to other physicists when attempting to interpret the make-up of ionic structures.
His study of bonding was extended as his career progressed. In fact, two major findings concerning bonding theories can be attributed to him: hybridization and bond resonance. Hybridization is a concept that reorganizes an atom's electron cloud so that some electrons assume positions favorable for bonding. It provides some exceptions when dealing with the nature of bonds. Resonance is the rapid jumping of electrons between two or more positions within a bond. It has helped to explain the bonding properties of structures such as aromatic rings (benzene). .
His concepts became well known in the science world, as they were far superior to previous concepts that determined the structure of molecular compounds. In 1939, he brought together much of his research and published it in a book he called The Nature of the Chemical Bond and the Structure of Molecules and Crystals.