USING
THE
CHEMISTRY PALETTE
The Chemistry Palette is used to create and enter
expressions as a response to chemistry related questions
during an assignment take.
In questions that provide it, the Chemistry Palette opens
automatically when you click inside the answer text box. You
can then use the toolbar to insert symbols, create subscripts
and superscripts to produce the correct format for your answer.
The Chemistry Palette
You can make the best use of your available test time and give
your best answer by reviewing the following information and
becoming familiar with the Chemistry Palette toolbar before
taking an assignment.
Note: Before you submit your response, double-check your
answers and make sure your browser is not automatically filling
in an incorrect response.
1
Using the Chemistry Palette
Creating a Chemical Formula
When entering a response with the Chemistry Palette, you
can select from the following tools to enter specialized
characters and perform formatting operations. You use your
keyboard to enter carets, underscores, and alphanumeric
characters.
Superscript
Click this tool to place the selected number into a
superscript position. If the number is already
superscript, this tool can place it in the standard
position.
Subscript
Click this tool to place the selected number into a
subscript position. If the number is already subscript,
this tool can place it in the standard position.
Note: When you enter a chemical formula with numbers
trailing the element abbreviation, OWLv2 automatically
places the number in a subscript position.
Preceding superscript and subscript
Click this tool to create preceding subscript and
superscript entry fields for the selected element.
Uppercase/Lowercase Toggle
Click this tool to switch the selected character between
uppercase and lowercase.
OWLv2 Chemistry Palette
2
Using the Chemistry Palette
You can also use the Chemistry Palette to insert the following
Greek symbols in their lowercase form:
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Nu
Use the controls at the bottom of the editor to Undo your last
action, Redo (a previous “undo”), or Clear the answer text box
of all content.
¾ To create formulas using the Chemistry Palette
The steps below detail how to create the chemical formula for
nitroglycerin.
1. Place your cursor inside the answer text box and the
Chemistry Palette will open just below.
2. Using your keyboard, enter “C3H5(NO3)3C.”
OWLv2 automatically enters the number values as
subscript, so no further editing should be required.
3. If necessary, individually highlight lowercase letters and
use the “case-toggle” tool
OWLv2 Chemistry Palette
to switch to uppercase.
3
Using the Chemistry Palette
The steps below detail how the subscript/superscript tool is
used to create the notation for a nuclide or isotope. This
example is Helium-3.
1. Place your cursor inside the answer text box and the
Chemistry Palette will open just below.
2. Using your keyboard enter “He,” and then highlight
these two letters with your cursor (if they are not
already).
3. Click the subscript/superscript tool and two preceding
entry boxes appear.
The active box becomes an outlined, empty rectangle
when your cursor is placed inside.
4. Type “3” in the upper box to indicate the mass number,
and then click inside the lower box and type “2” in the
lower box for the atomic number.
OWLv2 Chemistry Palette
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