American theoretical physical chemist Linus Carl Pauling (1901–94) is the only person to have won two unshared Nobel Prizes. His first, a Nobel Prize for Chemistry (1954), was awarded for research into the nature of the chemical bond and its use in elucidating molecular structure; the second, a Nobel Prize for Peace (1962), recognized his efforts to ban the testing of nuclear weapons. Before his Nobel fame Pauling also wrote for the Encyclopædia Britannica, penning in 1948 the 14th edition’s article on “The Periodic Law,” highlighted below. It was discovered by Dmitri I. Mendeléyev in the mid-19th century that the ...(100 of 2525 words) Access the full article Help support true facts by becoming a member. Subscribe today!