Representing paint molecules with JChemPaint
Molecule Editor
Drawings of molecules can be made with a graphics program like Inkscape. But structural formulas turn out even better if you use the JChemPaint professional molecule editor.
Every now and then, students need a tool for chemistry classes that makes it easy to put chemical structural formulas on digital paper. This not only makes it easier to work on homework but also helps to document experiments by drawing the chemical reactions. The free molecule editor JChemPaint [1] supports the (budding) chemist here.
The LGPL Java program is only available from the package sources of a few distributions. Arch Linux maintains the program in the Arch User Repository, but JChemPaint can easily be downloaded from the homepage and run at the command line (Listing 1). The settings let you change the language and appearance of the application, among other things. To do this, select Edit | Settings and switch to the Other settings tab.
Drawing Molecules
There are two different ways to create drawings in JChemPaint. To represent a chemical compound as a structural formula, you would start with a central atom such as carbon. Alternatively, you can start from the edge of the structural formula. For carbonic acid, for example, first draw the functional group (a small collection of atoms that determines how a molecule works), that is, carboxylic acid R-C=O-OH. Click on the C icon in the lower toolbar and then on the drawing board to transfer the carbon atom to the drawing area.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
News
-
KDE Plasma 6 Looks to Bring Basic HDR Support
The KWin piece of KDE Plasma now has HDR support and color management geared for the 6.0 release.
-
Bodhi Linux 7.0 Beta Ready for Testing
The latest iteration of the Bohdi Linux distribution is now available for those who want to experience what's in store and for testing purposes.
-
Changes Coming to Ubuntu PPA Usage
The way you manage Personal Package Archives will be changing with the release of Ubuntu 23.10.
-
AlmaLinux 9.2 Now Available for Download
AlmaLinux has been released and provides a free alternative to upstream Red Hat Enterprise Linux.
-
An Immutable Version of Fedora Is Under Consideration
For anyone who's a fan of using immutable versions of Linux, the Fedora team is currently considering adding a new spin called Fedora Onyx.
-
New Release of Br OS Includes ChatGPT Integration
Br OS 23.04 is now available and is geared specifically toward web content creation.
-
Command-Line Only Peropesis 2.1 Available Now
The latest iteration of Peropesis has been released with plenty of updates and introduces new software development tools.
-
TUXEDO Computers Announces InfinityBook Pro 14
With the new generation of their popular InfinityBook Pro 14, TUXEDO upgrades its ultra-mobile, powerful business laptop with some impressive specs.
-
Linux Kernel 6.3 Release Includes Interesting Features
Although it's not a Long Term Release candidate, Linux 6.3 includes features that will benefit end users.
-
Arch-Based blendOS Features Cool Trick
If you're looking for a Linux distribution that blends Linux, Android, and web apps together, blendOS might be what you're looking for.