Nobel Prize in Chemistry

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is given each year by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to scientists who have made important discoveries in the field of chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes created by Alfred Nobel in 1895. The other prizes are for physics, literature, peace, and physiology or medicine.

The first Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded in 1901 to Jacobus Henricus van 't Hoff from the Netherlands. He received it for discovering the laws of chemical dynamics and osmotic pressure in solutions. Since then, the prize has been given to many people. Two winners, Frederick Sanger and K. Barry Sharpless, each won the prize twice! In 2025, the prize was awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson, and Omar M. Yaghi for creating something called metal–organic frameworks.

Only eight women have ever won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. They are Marie Curie, her daughter Irène Joliot-Curie, Dorothy Hodgkin, Ada Yonath, Frances Arnold, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Jennifer Doudna, and Carolyn R. Bertozzi. Marie Curie is special because she also won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903.

Background

Alfred Nobel used most of his money to create prizes for people who do great work for humanity. These prizes are for physics, chemistry, peace, physiology, medicine, and literature. He left 94% of his assets, about 31 million Swedish kronor, for these prizes. His will was approved in 1897. The Nobel Foundation manages the money and organizes the prizes. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences gives out the Nobel Prize in Chemistry each year.

Award ceremony

Main article: Nobel Prize

The winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry are usually announced in October each year. The award happens at a special ceremony on December 10, the day Alfred Nobel died. After the ceremony, there is a celebration called the Nobel Banquet in Stockholm City Hall.

Nomination and selection

The Nobel Laureates in chemistry are chosen by a group of five people from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Many people suggest names, but these are kept secret. Experts help pick the best candidates. This careful process makes the prize very important.

The committee checks that the work being honored has made a big difference, often waiting many years before giving the award. Up to three people can win each year for their important work in chemistry.

Prizes

A Chemistry Nobel Prize laureate gets a gold medal, a special diploma with their name, and some money. The amount of money changes each year.

Main article: Nobel Prize medal § Physics and Chemistry

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry medal looks like the Nobel Prize in Physics medal. It shows the Goddess of Nature as Isis with a cornucopia, and the Genius of Science holding a veil. The medal was made by Erik Lindberg in Eskilstuna. Each medal has the winner’s name and words about improving life through discoveries. The diploma for each winner is special and has a picture and text about why they won.

Nobel laureates in chemistry

For a more comprehensive list, see List of Nobel laureates in Chemistry.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is given each year to scientists who have made important discoveries in chemistry. It is one of the five Nobel Prizes created by Alfred Nobel’s will in 1895. The prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences to honor outstanding work in chemistry.

Scope of award

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has sometimes been talked about because it has not always gone to people who work in traditional chemistry fields. Since 2012, some chemistry prizes have been given for work in areas like biochemistry or molecular biology, instead of chemistry itself.

Studies have shown that science Nobel Prizes often focus on a few popular subjects. For chemistry, most awards have gone to researchers in molecular chemistry. This pattern shows how the prizes sometimes highlight certain areas more than others.