How did Linus Pauling build on Gilbert N. Lewis's electron-pair bonding model?

Linus Pauling built upon Gilbert N. Lewis's electron-pair bonding model by reconciling it with the emerging principles of quantum mechanics. While the original Lewis model treated atoms as static arrangements of charges, Pauling transformed it into the valence-bond method.12

Pauling’s approach involved:

• Quantum Integration: He utilized the quantum-mechanical exchange effect to explain the nature of the bond, specifically by constructing wave functions that represented paired-electron bonds between atoms.2
• Resonance: Pauling introduced the concept of resonance, where a molecule exists in a composite state represented by a linear combination of multiple possible structures. This allowed for the analysis of complex molecules, such as benzene.2
• Structural Explanation: By mixing wave functions, Pauling was able to provide a quantum-mechanical explanation for phenomena like the tetrahedral structure of carbon.2

These advancements were comprehensively detailed in Pauling's influential book, The Nature of the Chemical Bond (1939), which solidified the valence-bond model as a cornerstone of 20th-century theoretical chemistry.12