Alexander Borodin was an extraordinary personality and a singular case in the history of science. He dedicated all his life to chemistry and music, making him a unique case of recognition in both science and arts.  However, the importance of Borodin in the history of music, both original and pioneering, is so important that his role as a researcher and professor of chemistry in nineteenth century Russia is not widely known. Professor Maria José Lourenço, of the University of Lisbon, a distinguished chemist in her own right, investigates Borodin’s scientific career and explains how our current daily welfare and comfort are based on some of his discoveries.