Regarding the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which of the following scientists was not one of the laureates for that year?

Introduction / Context:
Nobel Prizes are among the highest international honours in science and other fields. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2016 recognised groundbreaking work on molecular machines. This question tests your ability to recall the correct combination of laureates by asking you to identify which person listed did not receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry that year.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The focus year is 2016 and the subject area is Chemistry.
Three scientists jointly received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2016.
The options include names associated with different Nobel disciplines.
You must select the scientist who did not share the Chemistry prize that year.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is simple factual recall. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016 was awarded for the design and synthesis of molecular machines. The laureates were Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa. J. Michael Kosterlitz, on the other hand, is a Nobel laureate in Physics, not in Chemistry, and he received the prize in the same year for work on topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter. Recognising this distinction allows you to identify the one option that does not belong to the Chemistry trio.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the names of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureates: Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa. Step 2: Compare these names with the options given in the question. Step 3: Notice that Jean-Pierre Sauvage appears among the options and is indeed one of the Chemistry laureates. Step 4: Observe that Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa are also listed and are confirmed Chemistry laureates. Step 5: Recognise that J. Michael Kosterlitz is a Nobel Prize winner in Physics, not Chemistry, which makes him the only option that does not fit the group of Chemistry laureates.

Verification / Alternative check:
As an alternative check, remember that in 2016 two separate Nobel Prizes were particularly highlighted in the sciences. Physics honoured research on topological phase transitions, with Duncan Haldane, John M. Kosterlitz and David J. Thouless as laureates. Chemistry recognised the work on molecular machines and was shared by Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Bernard L. Feringa. Linking Kosterlitz with Physics instead of Chemistry confirms that he is not part of the Chemistry laureate group for that year.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jean-Pierre Sauvage: He is one of the three scientists who shared the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work on molecular machines, so he is a correct Chemistry laureate and not the answer to this question.
Sir J. Fraser Stoddart: He is also part of the 2016 Chemistry laureate team, recognised for contributions to molecular machines.
Bernard L. Feringa: He completed the trio honoured for the design and synthesis of molecular machines, so he is clearly a Chemistry laureate for 2016.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to remember that all of these scientists are Nobel laureates but to forget the exact category of the prize. This can lead to confusing Physics and Chemistry winners of the same year. Another pitfall is rushing through the options and assuming that less familiar names are wrong. In fact, the lesser known names here are genuine Chemistry laureates, while J. Michael Kosterlitz is more widely mentioned due to his Physics work. Careful reading and clear association of each name with its correct field helps avoid such errors.

Final Answer:
The scientist who was not one of the 2016 Nobel Prize laureates in Chemistry is J. Michael Kosterlitz.