Vertical bars in chemical equation

Question

I'm trying to write chemical equations with mhchem, but I can't compile the code when I insert vertical bars (||) in the formula.

\usepackage[version=4]{mhchem}
.
.
\begin{center}
\ce{|M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}|[Al_{x}Si_{t-x}O_{2t}]-IZA}
\end{center}

When I write ||, the code don't compile, but if I replace it by [] it works fine.

Any suggestions?

I would like write something like this:
\begin{center} \ce{|M_{x}(H2O){\gamma}|[Al{x}Si_{t-x}O_{2t}]-IZA} \end{center}

I need write || in the formula. I wouldn't like replace it by [ ] because IUPAC rules don't allow. — Valeria García Melgarejo, Jan 02 '16 at 21:24
Welcome to TeX.SX! Please make your code compilable (if possible), or at least complete it with \documentclass{...}, the required \usepackage's, \begin{document}, and \end{document}. That may seem tedious to you, but think of the extra work it represents for TeX.SX users willing to give you a hand. Help them help you: remove that one hurdle between you and a solution to your problem. — samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz, Jan 02 '16 at 21:30
You could split up the \ce like so: |\ce{M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}}| \ce{[Al_{x}Si_{t-x}O_{2t}]-IZA} — Rico, Jan 02 '16 at 21:52
Have a look at http://tex.stackexchange.com/questions/46519/how-can-i-typeset-an-extra-long-textbar. — biozic, Jan 02 '16 at 21:53
Thanks, @Rico. I'm going to split up my formula, like you said. And thanks samcarter for your suggestions — Valeria García Melgarejo, Jan 02 '16 at 23:08
For what it's worth: there's no problem using | with chemformula — cgnieder, Jan 03 '16 at 12:46

Przemysław Scherwentke · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-02T22:50:44.657

6

I don't know if the bars in my example are in proper places, but the idea is simple: putting them in math mode:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[version=4]{mhchem}

\begin{document}
\begin{center}
\ce{$|$M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}$|$ $|$Al_{x}Si_{t-x}O_{2t}$|$-IZA}
\end{center}

\end{document}

edited Jan 02 '16 at 22:50

answered Jan 02 '16 at 22:26

Przemysław Scherwentke

37,268

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 02 '16 at 23:12

You could simply split up you formula.

\documentclass{article}

\usepackage[version=4]{mhchem}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
\usepackage[utf8]{inputenc}

\begin{document}
\begin{center}
|\ce{M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}}| \ce{[Al_{x}Si_{t-x}O_{2t}]-IZA}
\end{center}

\end{document}

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 03 '16 at 09:31

1

The other answers offered workarounds. As for the question, why this is not supported by the \ce macro, well, the author never considered this particular notation. If you can provide an argument that this is a standard chemical notation (preferably by a IUPAC colored book), he will be happy to include this into one of the next mhchem releases.

answered Jan 03 '16 at 09:31

mhchem

3,485
12
37

2

It seems that here is bug. For example \ce{M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}|} works, but \ce{|M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}} not and \ce{$|$M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}|} works again. Also works \ce{O2|M_{x}(H2O)_{\gamma}|}. Error is only if vertical bar is in beginning of chem formula. – Zarko Jan 03 '16 at 18:34

Vertical bars in chemical equation

3 Answers3