Elizabeth Zott, the main character and protagonist of Lessons in Chemistry, is a young Ph.D. candidate in chemistry in the 1950s who dreams of becoming a professor at a prestigious university. However, she faces several obstacles due to her gender and the prevailing misogynistic attitudes toward women in science. Elizabeth struggles to find a topic for her dissertation, and her advisor, Dr. Albertson, constantly dismisses her ideas, both of which deeply upsets her.
Desperate to find a project that will earn her the respect of her colleagues and secure her future as a scientist, Elizabeth decides to create a formula for a household cleaning product that will revolutionize the industry. She begins working with a marketing team to develop and market the product but struggles to balance her personal and professional life.
As Elizabeth's project gains momentum, she realizes that her male colleagues and even her boyfriend, Henry, do not support her career goals. She also faces criticism from feminist groups who accuse her of perpetuating gender stereotypes by creating a product marketed to women.
Despite these challenges, Elizabeth continues to work tirelessly on her formula and succeeds in developing a hugely successful product. However, in the process, she must confront her values and priorities and make difficult decisions about her future. Ultimately, she decides that she can deal with her personal life and career simultaneously. As a result, she returns to her lab at Hastings College and once again goes to work in her chemistry lab, happy to be doing something that she truly loves once again.
