Gilbert N. Lewis
He introduced the concept of covalent bonding and the Lewis dot structure for molecules.
Most quoted
"We may say that a basic substance is one which has a lone pair of electrons which may be used to complete the stable group of another atom, and that an acid is one which can employ a lone pair from another molecule in completing the stable group of one of its own atoms."
— from Valence and the Structure of Atoms and Molecules, 1923
"I have no patience with attempts to identify science with measurement, which is but one of its tools, or with any definition of the scientist which would exclude a Darwin, a Pasteur, or a Kekule."
— from The Anatomy of Science, 1926
"The essential feature of the theory of relativity is that it introduces a new conception of space and time, not that it modifies the laws of mechanics and electrodynamics."
— from The Anatomy of Science, 1926
All quotes by Gilbert N. Lewis (412)
The true test of a scientific theory is its predictive power.
We should not be afraid to admit when we are wrong.
The most important quality for a scientist is curiosity.
Education should not be about memorizing facts, but about learning to think critically.
The purpose of a university is to foster intellectual inquiry, not to transmit dogma.
Students should be encouraged to question authority, even the authority of their professors.
The best way to learn is by doing.
The laboratory is the heart of scientific education.
The greatest gift a teacher can give a student is the ability to think for themselves.
The pursuit of knowledge is an end in itself.
The universe is far more complex and interesting than we can ever imagine.
The human mind is capable of extraordinary feats of understanding.
We are only just beginning to understand the fundamental laws of nature.
The scientific community should be open to new ideas, no matter how unconventional they may seem.
The progress of science depends on a healthy skepticism.
The universe does not care about our preconceptions.
The search for truth is a never-ending journey.
The scientific enterprise is a collective endeavor.
Collaboration is essential for scientific progress.
The sharing of ideas is crucial for innovation.
Contemporaries of Gilbert N. Lewis
Other Chemistrys born within 50 years of Gilbert N. Lewis (1875–1946).