Additional note on “Markdown Editing Help”

Yesterday I extended one of my answers. Hosted on the chemistry site, chemical equations were used, yet it was rather by accident I recognized the option to use LaTeX's mhchem environment \ce{} inside the mathematical mode. An inline reaction equation (like this following $\ce{2 H2 + O2 -> H2O}$) written with the \ce{}-environment is a lot easier written and maintained than in "mathematical only" mode (like $2\, \mathrm{H}_2 + \mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$). Yet these examples do not cover advanced features mhchem eases to input like presence of charges like $\ce{Na+}$ viz. $\mathrm{Na}^+$.

Therefore this suggestion, to add a note on the corresponding markdown editing help page that states its existence and briefly demonstrates a minimal working example.

• All sites Exchange-wide have recently moved from a "faq" based help to the Help center. We will look into incorporating the information into that for everyone's reference. Thanks for pointing this out. – jonsca Jul 13 '13 at 8:17
• Note that a help center page for this already exists, it's just not so visible – ManishEarth Jul 13 '13 at 10:14
• Great pickup! I'ma test it now: $\ce{H2O}$ – Tomcat Aug 8 '13 at 11:21

We support most LaTeX math commands, as well as the \ce{} extension from the mhchem package. Just enclose your TeX code with $...$ (for inline math), or $$...$$ (if you want it centered on its own line) and it will render. If you wish to use chemical formulae or equations, simply use the ce{} macro around the
Here is some inline math $\sqrt{x+1}$
Here is some block level math $$\frac{1}{x+1}$$
$\ce{H2O}$ is the chemical formula for water