Wine is often described with poetic words—citrus, cocoa, floral, or earthy—yet behind every note is a complex chemical story shaped by the vineyard, the winemaker, and time. For many wine drinkers, the science behind the flavors is never revealed. At The Chemistry of...
For cement quality control, loss on ignition (LOI) testing is a critical tool for evaluating material integrity. LOI data helps identify moisture and carbonation, which can negatively impact cement performance. With automated split loss on ignition using LECO’s...
Easter, a holiday celebrated in many countries around the world, is nearly here! In the United States, Easter baskets are often given to children on the holiday, filled with lots of candy and treats. One treat in particular you’re sure to find is jelly beans. Jelly...
Labs that rely on helium gas are facing a major crisis…unless they have LECO instruments. Due to the military conflict in the Middle East, Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, the world’s largest helium production hub, providing one-third of the...
About the Author: Slava Artaev Viatcheslav “Slava” Artaev is a leading authority in time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOFMS). Slava was, and remains, a core member of the team behind the LECO Pegasus GC-TOFMS platform. Today, he continues to drive...
Biofuels are renewable energy sources derived from biological materials—such as plant biomass, agricultural residues, and organic waste—offering a more sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. Accurate chemical characterization of biofuels is essential to assess their...
Cement production relies on tight control of raw materials, where even small variations can affect clinker quality, kiln efficiency, and emissions performance. Among the most critical measurements are Carbon and Sulfur content, which influence everything from raw mix...
A chemistry-inspired look at romance, aroma, authenticity, and quality powered by LECO workflows. Roses, wine, chocolates, perfume, makeup, cheese, bread—the Valentine’s table pictured below is full of sensory highlights. It’s also full of chemistry: complex aroma...
10 years ago, consumers weren’t really thinking about how packaging may be affecting their food. Now, as science continues to reveal how the potential dangers of contaminants in food, food packaging has been placed under a figurative and literal microscope to see how...
Every December, the Christmas story sparks renewed curiosity about the gifts of the Magi–particularly Frankincense and Myrrh. But, beyond their symbolic meaning, what exactly are these substances, and what makes them distinct from one another? What are Frankincense...
