Using ChemType

Use ChemType to create chemical formulas and reactions in the MathType editor. It provides a Chemistry toolbar and automatically displays chemical element symbols in upright text.

In this article, you'll open ChemType, create a chemical expression, check its notation, and insert it into your content. You'll also see where to find chemistry symbols in the standard MathType toolbar.

Before you begin

Requirements

• Access to a MathType Web integration that offers ChemType.
• An application or document where you can insert a chemical expression.

Applies to

ChemType in MathType Web integrations. The buttons and the name of the command used to insert an expression may vary by application.

Steps

Open ChemType

In your application, select the ChemType button to open the chemistry editor. Applications that provide both editors usually have separate MathType and ChemType buttons.

ChemType opens with the Chemistry toolbar, which brings commonly used chemical symbols and structures together. You can still use the other MathType toolbar tabs when you need them.

Create a chemical expression

Type element symbols and other characters in the editing area. Use the Chemistry toolbar to add items such as subscripts, states of matter, and reaction arrows where needed.

Mathematical variables are normally displayed in italics. Chemical element symbols, however, follow different typographic conventions. In ChemType, chemical element symbols are automatically displayed in upright (Roman) text, making chemical formulas easier to read and consistent with scientific notation.

Check and insert the expression

Before inserting the expression, check that the element symbols, subscripts, and other notation appear as intended. Select Insert or the equivalent button in your integration to add the expression to your content.

Verify it worked

Check that the chemical expression appears in your content and matches what you saw in ChemType. In particular, check the element symbols, subscripts, and reaction arrow if you used one. If something needs changing, reopen the expression in the editor and correct it.

Options and variations

Use chemistry symbols in MathType

If you're working in the standard MathType editor, you can still find several chemistry-related symbols in its toolbar.

Reaction arrows

Open the Arrows tab to find reaction arrows.

Chemical element symbols

Open the Greek, letters and numbers tab to find chemical element symbols. Frequently used elements appear directly in the toolbar; expand the section to browse additional elements in a periodic table.

Try ChemType online

You can try ChemType in the online demo if you want to explore the editor and its Chemistry toolbar.

Common errors

The ChemType button is not available

Your application may place the button in an expanded toolbar or menu. If you cannot find it, ask your application administrator whether ChemType is supported and enabled in your integration.

The chemical expression does not look right

Reopen the expression and check whether each number is positioned correctly as a subscript or coefficient. You can also use the symbols and templates in the Chemistry toolbar to replace a character or structure that did not appear as intended.

Related

• Creating equations.
• Formatting equations.
• Toolbar and keyboard shortcuts.