Math & Science ⇒ mhchem package

[svend_tveskaeg]

Hi all.

Consider the following example, which compiles just fine:

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[version=3]{mhchem}

\begin{document}

\begin{equation}
  \ce{CH3\sbond (CH2)_{n}\sbond COOH}
\end{equation}

\end{document}

I would like the subscript n to be in mathmode but when I write

Code: Select all

\ce{CH3\sbond (CH2)_{$n$}\sbond COOH}

($'s around the n, that is) I get the following error:

Code: Select all

! Missing } inserted.
<inserted text> 
                }
l.7   \ce{CH3\sbond (CH2)_{$n$}\sbond COOH}

I really do not understand why.

Can someone tell me how to get the n in mathmode? (Here is the mhchem manual.)


Furthermore, the space between `)' and 'n' seems (a least to me) to be too big. How do I correct this?


Thank you in advance!

[localghost]

[…] I really do not understand why. […]

Neither do I.

[…] Can someone tell me how to get the n in mathmode? […]

You can use an italicized »n«. Math mode uses nothing else.

[…] Furthermore, the space between `)' and 'n' seems (a least to me) to be too big. How do I correct this? […]

I'm not aware of an automatism. It seems that you have to correct this manually.

Code: Select all

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[version=3]{mhchem}

\begin{document}
  \begin{equation}
    \ce{CH3\sbond (CH2)_{\!\emph{n}}\sbond COOH}
  \end{equation}
\end{document}

Thorsten

[svend_tveskaeg]

Thanks you for your help!

I came up with the solution following:

Code: Select all

\begin{equation}
  \ce{CH3\sbond (CH2)_{\hspace{-2pt}\text{$n$}}\sbond COOH}
\end{equation}

Not a pretty solution but it works. (I only have to use a mathmode subscript once in the document.)