March 7, 1935.

Professor A. B. Lamb, Editor

Journal of the American Chemical Society

Chem. Lab. of Harvard University

12 Oxford Street

Cambridge, Mass.

The interesting paper by Professor W. A. Noyes is mainly historical and not suited to the Journal. I recommend that it be not accepted for publication.

In accordance with Professor Noyes request, I am presenting the following remarks, which in the main refer to unimportant points.

P. 2, postulate 4, and p. 14, bottom. The assumption is apparently made that a definite Lewis electronic structure can always be assigned. Recent work on resonance suggests strongly, that this is not so. For example, consider the nitrate ion. The three-fold axis of symmetry observed for NO3 in NaNO3 is incompatible with the single structure:

[Hand drawn diagram]

, but is compatible with a resonating structure in which each 0 has the average charge -2/3.

P. 14, lines 6 to 9. Has this statement any meaning— is it possible to divide the atom up in such a way as to distinguish definitely between the unshared electrons and the atom as a whole?

P. 18, second paragraph. The statement is incorrect, atoms connected by a double or a triple bond being about 10% or 20% closer together, respectively, than when connected by a single bond. Example: C - C = 1.54 Å in C₂H₆, C = C = 1.37 Å in C₂H₄, C = C = 1.22 Å in C₂H₂.

P. 24, lines 2 and 3. This statement is presumably incorrect; as stated on p. 13, quantum mechanics suggests that electronic isomers of this type do not exist.

P. 24, line 3 — from the bottom. I know of no evidence at all showing that CNH exists.

Very truly yours,

Linus Pauling

Professor of Chemistry

LP:EM

Inter-Department Communication

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

Date March 12, 1935 [?]

[handwritten] Dear Professor Millikan:

I have now about $250 of the 1934-5 Rockefeller Fund unexpended. I wish to prepare apparatus for our hemoglobin program without delay, and this might make advisable the expenditure of more than this amount before July 1, 1935. Would it be possible for me to use an advance of $250, if necessary, from the 1935-36 fund?

Linus Pauling

March 19, 1935

To the Executive Council,

California Institute of Technology.

Gentlemen:

I recommend that the following appointments, all for the period of July 1, 1935 to June 1936, be made:

Rockefeller Fund ($10,000.00)

Dr. J. H. Sturdivant $2,000.00

Dr. G. W. Wheland $1,800.00

Mr. C. D. Coryell $1,500.00

Dr. S. Weinbaum $1,200.00

Total $6,500

Molecule-Structure Fund ($5,000.00)

Dr. L. O. Brockway $2,000.00

Dr. J. Sherman $1,300.00

Total $3,300.00

Respectfully submitted,

Linus Pauling

LP:EM