The ACS Award in Chemical Education was renamed the George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education in his honor in 1989.
*Earle K. Plyler Prize for Molecular Spectroscopy (1979)
*Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1982)
*Peter Debye Award (1983)
*National Medal of Science (1985)
*Franklin Medal (1985)
*Welch Award (1986)
*American Institute of Chemists Gold Medal (1988)
*Priestley Medal (1989)
*George C. Pimentel Award in Chemical Education (1990)
In 1966, Pimentel was elected to the National Academy of Sciences and in 1968 to the American Academy of Arts and Science. In 1985, 1987 and 1989 he was elected an honorary member to the American Philosophical Society, the Royal Chemical Society (Great Britain), and the Royal Institute of Great Britain. In 1987, he served as the President of the American Chemical Society.