How the Nobel Committee for Chemistry Has Shaped the Nobel Prize: Historical Trends Based on the Nobel Prize Nomination Archive.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry is governed by the Nobel Foundation's rules and managed by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences via its Nobel Committee for Chemistry. Despite 125 years of awarding these prizes and increased transparency from the Nobel Foundation, many aspects of the selection process remain obscure. Our analysis of the Nobel Prize Nomination Archive from 1901 to 1970 reveals that the decisions were heavily influenced by the personal and professional biases of the members of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry, who were not only responsible for inviting and assessing nominations but also for presenting recommendations to the Academy. Nobel laureates also significantly influenced the process due to their right to make ongoing nominations. The study suggests ways to improve the nomination and selection process to better reflect the evolving nature of chemistry in the 21st century.