Modifying The Data In ChemTable

All of the data shown in ChemTable v2.32 is contained in the application's resource database. The data is organized in a number of string lists, and can be modified using a resource editor.

String List ID

Description

1000

Element names, in order of atomic number.

1010

Symbols, in order of atomic number.

1020

Atomic numbers

1030

Text fragments used to construct the property strings for each element (“Atomic Weight: ”, “Melting Point: ”, “Density: ”, etc)

1040

Classification (-1 = not yet discovered)

String Index	Text
0	“Alkali Metal”
1	“Alkaline Earth Metal”
2	“Transition Metal”
3	“Metalloid”
4	“Other Metal”
5	“Nonmetal”
6	“Halogen”
7	“Noble Gas”
8	“Lanthanide”
9	“Actinide”
10	“Transactinide”

1050

Group (“1 / IA”, “2 / IIA”, “3 / IIIB”, etc)

1060

Popup menu items for the periodic table (display Symbols or Atomic Numbers)

1070

Crystal structure

String Index	Text
0	“face-centered cubic”
1	“body-centered cubic”
2	“hexagonal”
3	“hexagonal close-packed”
4	“double hexagonal close-packed”
5	“rhombohedral”
6	“monoclinic”
7	“tetragonal”
8	“trigonal”
9	“orthorhombic”
10	“cubic”
11	“diamond”

1080

Popup menu items for the element list (sort by Name, Symbol, or At. No.)

1090

X Coordinates of labels (Name, Symbol, Atomic No.) for the element list

1100

X Coordinates of columns in the element list.

1110

Acidity/Basicity of oxides (“very acidic oxide”, “amphoteric oxide”, etc).

1700 to 1817

Values for up to 20 properties are available for each element. If naturally occurring isotopes exist, the string list will include mass numbers and abundances.

The string list ID for a given element is equal to (1699 + atomic number).

String Index	Data
0	Atomic weight
1	IUPAC group number (1 to 18). The application uses this string to generate an index into the Group string list (String List ID 1050).
2	An index into the Classification string list (String List ID 1040). “-1” is used for elements that are not yet discovered.
3	Electron configuration
4	Melting point (“tp” indicates a triple point)
5	Boiling point (“sp” indicates a sublimation point)
6	Density
7	Atomic radius
8	An integer value representing the crystal structure. Subtract 1 from this value to get an index into the Crystal Structure string list. Alternatively, a text string can be entered here. For example, “helical chains of trigonal symmetry”.
9	Pauling electronegativity
10	Oxidation states. The acidity/basicity of an oxide is given by “^n”, where n = 1,2,3,...7. n-1 is an index into the Oxide string list (String List ID 1110).
11	1^st ionization energy
12	2^nd ionization energy
13	3^rd ionization energy
14	Electron affinity
15	Specific heat capacity
16	Thermal conductivity
17	Enthalpy of atomization
18	Enthalpy of vaporization
19	Enthalpy of fusion (“tp” indicates an enthalpy value at the triple point)
20 and higher	Mass numbers and abundances of naturally occurring isotopes (if any exist)

Bird Resource Editor

Bird is a freeware on-board resource editor written by Philippe Guillot. A description of how to use it is available here. Please note that Bird requires Palm OS 5. The following example shows how string lists are edited:

Lanthanum and Actinium are categorized as transition metals in ChemTable. In some textbooks, Lanthanum is defined as a Lanthanide, while Actinium is defined as an Actinide. Using Bird, you can change the classification of those elements.

In Bird's Database List, double-tap ChemTable to begin editing.

In the Resource List, look for the string list associated with Lanthanum, atomic number 57. The string list type is “tSTL”. The ID is 1756. Double-tap the list item to open the String List editor.

The 3^rd item in the string list is the classification index. “2” represents Transition Metal. Double-tap that item to bring up a String Editor.

Replace “2” with “8” (for Lanthanide). Tap the OK button.

Look for the string list associated with Actinium, atomic number 89. The ID is 1788. Double-tap the list item to open the String List Editor.

Double-tap the 3^rd string. In the String Editor, replace “2” with “9” (for Actinide). Tap the OK button to close the String Editor.

Tap the OK button to close the String List Editor. Tap the Done button to close the Resource List form.
Exit Bird. Run ChemTable to check the result.

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May 8, 2010