The first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was Marie Curie. She was awarded the prize in 1911 for her groundbreaking research on radioactivity, which included the discovery of the elements polonium and radium. Curie's work not only advanced scientific understanding of atomic structure but also paved the way for future research in physics and medicine. Her achievements broke barriers for women in science, establishing her as a pioneering figure and role model for generations of female scientists.