Package lib :: Module periodic_table :: Class Element
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Class Element

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A special object representing each element.

Instance Methods [hide private]
 
__init__(self, atomic_number=None, symbol=None, name=None, atomic_weight=None)
Set up the element object.
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_add_isotope(self, A=None, atomic_mass=None, spin=None, gyromagnetic_ratio=None)
Add the isotope information for the element.
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Method Details [hide private]

__init__(self, atomic_number=None, symbol=None, name=None, atomic_weight=None)
(Constructor)

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Set up the element object.

Parameters:
  • atomic_number (int) - The atomic number.
  • symbol (str) - The atomic symbol.
  • name (str) - The chemical element name.
  • atomic_weight (str) - The atomic weight number for the atom. This is a string as it uses the IUPAC notation of, for example, "[1.00784, 1.00811]" and "4.002602(2)" to represent ranges and uncertainty.

_add_isotope(self, A=None, atomic_mass=None, spin=None, gyromagnetic_ratio=None)

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Add the isotope information for the element.

Parameters:
  • A (int) - The mass number of the isotope.
  • atomic_mass (str) - The atomic mass of the isotope. This uses the string notation with the uncertainty specified in brackets at the end.
  • spin (int or float) - Nuclear spin or angular momentum of the isotope in units of h/2pi.
  • gyromagnetic_ratio (float) - The nuclear gyromagnetic ratio.