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How can chemistry help to restore a long-lost holiday tradition? The American chestnut was once synonymous with yuletide celebrations. But this beloved holiday tradition was almost completely wiped out by a fungus between 1904 and 1945. Researchers are working to bring it back by crossbreeding the American chestnut with Chinese varieties. This would give it resistance against the deadly fungus. Analytical chemistry is a valuable tool during this process since it can help to provide objective flavor assessment. Techniques like GCMS and LCMS also allow chemists to identify secondary metabolites that give varieties a defense system against invaders.

When we think about the storage shelf life of ethanol, we might first think about the shelf life of alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine. However, if you’re running a business or a laboratory, then you care more about the storage and shelf life of ethanol as a chemical solvent. In this article, we’ll […]

Sulfuric acid is one of the most common acidifying reagents and sulfur sources, essential across multiple industries. At the same time, it is also a toxic and highly hazardous chemical reagent, requiring safe handling and disposal by trained personnel. For this reason, it’s important to understand how to safely dispose of sulfuric acid. A major […]

It’s December, the season of baked goods – from Christmas cookies to hearty breads that will keep you cozy and nourished as the temperatures drop. There’s a special ingredient that is common among home bakers, small food businesses, all the way up to large scale food production: the humble (yet sort of magical) baking soda, […]