The Department of Chemistry at MIT is one of the top university faculties in the world.^[1] Research conducted covers the entire field of chemistry, ranging from organic chemistry and biological chemistry to physical chemistry, inorganic chemistry, environmental chemistry, materials science and nanoscience.

The Department of Chemistry at MIT has been established since the Institute opened its doors in 1865. It started with two professors, Charles W. Eliot and Francis H. Storer, and a class of 15 students.

In 1866, the department moved to its then new quarters in the basement of the Rogers Building in Boston.

In 1907, MIT awarded its first Ph.D. to three students in the field of physical chemistry.

The department has several Nobel Laureates among its faculty and alumni, including the following:

• Robert B. Woodward (Chemistry, 1965)
• Robert S. Mulliken (Chemistry, 1966)
• H. Gobind Khorana (Medicine & Physiology, 1968)
• Geoffrey Wilkinson (Chemistry, 1973)
• Charles J. Pedersen (Chemistry 1987)
• Sidney Altman and Thomas R. Cech (Chemistry, 1989)
• Elias J. Corey (Chemistry, 1990)
• Mario Molina (Chemistry, 1995)
• K. Barry Sharpless (Chemistry, 2001)
• Aaron Ciechanover (Chemistry, 2004)
• Richard R. Schrock (Chemistry, 2005).
• Moungi Bawendi (Chemistry, 2023).