Dr Linus Carl Pauling is the only person to have received two Nobel Prizes individually; in which fields and years did he receive these awards?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Chemistry in 1954, Peace Prize in 1962

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Nobel Prize questions are classic static general knowledge items. Linus Carl Pauling is especially important because he is one of the very few individuals to have received two Nobel Prizes, and he did so without sharing either award with anyone else. Knowing the exact fields and years of his awards helps in exams covering science history and international honours.


Given Data / Assumptions:

- The question states that Linus Carl Pauling is the only person to have won two Nobel Prizes individually.

- The options combine different fields and years for possible Nobel awards.

- We must choose the option that correctly matches both the field and the year for each of his Nobel Prizes.



Concept / Approach:
Linus Pauling was a renowned American chemist and peace activist. He received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1954 for his research into the nature of the chemical bond and the structure of complex substances. Later, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1962 for his efforts against nuclear weapons testing and his activism for world peace. The key is to remember that chemistry came first in 1954, followed by peace in 1962. Since the question focuses on an individual who received both prizes alone, we should also note that his situation is different from others like Marie Curie, who shared one of her awards.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Pauling was a chemist, so one Nobel must be in Chemistry. Step 2: Remember that he also became a famous peace activist and therefore received the Nobel Peace Prize. Step 3: Match the correct chronological order. His scientific work came earlier, and his peace activism recognition came later, so Chemistry should be in an earlier year than Peace. Step 4: Among the options, only the combination Chemistry in 1954 and Peace Prize in 1962 fits this chronological and factual pattern. Step 5: Select the option that states Chemistry in 1954, Peace Prize in 1962.


Verification / Alternative check:
You may have seen standard general knowledge tables listing multiple Nobel laureates with more than one award. Linus Pauling is always mentioned as a two time laureate who received Chemistry in 1954 and Peace in 1962. Linking his timeline to the cold war era and nuclear test ban movement also helps confirm that the peace award belongs to the early nineteen sixties and not the nineteen fifties.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option B reverses the years and would imply he received the peace award earlier than the chemistry award, which is factually incorrect.

Option C assigns him prizes in Physics and Medicine, which do not match his main contributions. He was known for chemistry and peace efforts, not for physics experiments or medical research.

Option D also uses Medicine and Physics with incorrect years and fields, so it does not correspond to his real achievements.



Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is mixing up Linus Pauling with other two time Nobel laureates, such as Marie Curie or John Bardeen. Another issue is confusing the year of the Peace Prize because the award ceremony for the 1962 prize took place in 1963, which can occasionally cause minor confusion in reading sources. For exam purposes, you only need to remember the official award years and the correct pairing of Chemistry in 1954 and Peace in 1962.


Final Answer:
The correct answer is Chemistry in 1954, Peace Prize in 1962, which describes the two individual Nobel Prizes received by Linus Carl Pauling.

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