VU-MaintenanceBot: Document chemical infobox fields

2026-07-01T17:31:22Z

Document chemical infobox fields

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== Usage ==
Use this template for substances, mixtures, laboratory media, preservation fluids, toxins, and other chemical materials. It is meant to summarize chemistry, physical properties, safety, and documented use without repeating the same fact under several labels.

<syntaxhighlight lang="wikitext">
{{Infobox chemical
| name =
| image =
| image_caption =
| other_names =
| iupac_name =
| formula =
| molar_mass =
| chemical_class =
| compound_type =
| composition =
| function =
| uses =
| physical_state =
| appearance =
| odor =
| density =
| melting_point =
| boiling_point =
| solubility =
| ph =
| conductivity =
| residue =
| hazards =
| toxicity =
| exposure_routes =
| handling =
| storage =
| stability =
| developed_by =
| manufacturer =
| associated_facility =
| first_recorded =
| active_period =
| status =
}}
</syntaxhighlight>

== Field guidance ==
Choose fields that add distinct information. Do not fill several rows with the same organization, the same use, or the same hazard phrased in different ways.

; chemical_class
: Broad chemical family or practical category, such as ''aldehyde-based preservative'', ''cyanide compound'', ''electrolyte-buffered nutrient medium'', or ''oxidizing agent''.
; compound_type
: More specific material type, such as ''solution'', ''mixture'', ''fixative'', ''medium'', ''salt'', ''gas'', or ''polymer''. Do not repeat the chemical class.
; composition
: Main ingredients or formulation basis. Use this for mixtures and fictional formulations where exact formulae are not known.
; formula
: Molecular formula for a defined compound. Do not use this for a vague mixture unless the article identifies one principal compound.
; function
: Primary chemical or biological action, such as ''tissue fixation'', ''cellular respiration inhibition'', ''pH buffering'', or ''osmotic support''.
; uses
: Documented application or context of use. This should describe where people used the substance, not restate the function.
; physical_state
: Normal state or form under relevant storage or use conditions, such as ''liquid'', ''aqueous solution'', ''gas'', ''solid'', or ''crystalline residue''.
; appearance
: Visible description: color, clarity, texture, or deposit. Keep it observational.
; hazards
: Safety classification or principal danger, such as ''toxic'', ''corrosive'', ''flammable'', ''biohazard'', or ''lethal poison''.
; toxicity
: Mechanism or severity of toxic effect, if known. Use plain scientific language.
; exposure_routes
: Relevant exposure pathways, such as inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, injection, or environmental release.
; handling
: Required handling method, not who had permission to access it.
; storage
: Storage condition or container type, such as sealed container, refrigerated storage, locked chemical tank, or inert atmosphere.
; stability
: Notable stability, decomposition, reactivity, or shelf-life information.
; developed_by
: Person or organization credited with development. If the developer and manufacturer are the same, fill only the more useful row unless the distinction matters.
; manufacturer
: Entity that produced the material.
; associated_facility
: Facility strongly tied to production, storage, use, or discovery.
; status
: Current availability or confirmed final state, such as destroyed, seized, discontinued, active, or unaccounted for.

== Avoiding repeated rows ==
* Do not use both {{para|chemical_class}} and {{para|compound_type}} for the same wording.
* Do not use {{para|function}} to repeat {{para|uses}}. Function is what the chemical does; uses are where or why it was applied.
* Do not repeat one organization in {{para|developed_by}}, {{para|manufacturer}}, and article text unless the distinction is important.
* Do not use access-control details as chemical data. Put staff permissions, control panels, or facility security in the article body.
* Prefer measured or observable properties over vague labels. For example, use ''aqueous liquid; pale yellow; sharp aldehyde odor'' instead of only ''dangerous chemical''.

== Legacy parameter names ==
Older articles may use these names. They still work, but new pages should use the clearer names above.

{| class="wikitable"
! Old name !! Preferred name
|-
| {{para|caption}} || {{para|image_caption}}
|-
| {{para|formulation}} || {{para|composition}}
|-
| {{para|primary_effect}} || {{para|function}}
|-
| {{para|recorded_use}} || {{para|uses}}
|-
| {{para|state}} || {{para|physical_state}}
|-
| {{para|hazard_class}} || {{para|hazards}}
|-
| {{para|handling_status}} || {{para|handling}}
|-
| {{para|developer}} || {{para|developed_by}}
|-
| {{para|post_collapse_status}} || {{para|status}}
|}

<templatedata>
{
"description": "Infobox for chemical substances, mixtures, media, toxins, and preservation fluids.",
"params": {
"name": {"label": "Name", "type": "string", "suggested": true},
"image": {"label": "Image", "type": "wiki-file-name"},
"image_caption": {"label": "Image caption", "type": "string", "aliases": ["caption"]},
"other_names": {"label": "Other names", "type": "string"},
"iupac_name": {"label": "IUPAC name", "type": "string"},
"formula": {"label": "Formula", "type": "string", "aliases": ["molecular_formula"]},
"molar_mass": {"label": "Molar mass", "type": "string"},
"chemical_class": {"label": "Chemical class", "type": "string", "suggested": true},
"compound_type": {"label": "Compound type", "type": "string"},
"composition": {"label": "Composition", "type": "string", "aliases": ["formulation"]},
"function": {"label": "Function", "type": "string", "aliases": ["primary_effect"]},
"uses": {"label": "Uses", "type": "string", "aliases": ["recorded_use"]},
"physical_state": {"label": "Physical state", "type": "string", "aliases": ["state"], "suggested": true},
"appearance": {"label": "Appearance", "type": "string"},
"odor": {"label": "Odor", "type": "string"},
"density": {"label": "Density", "type": "string"},
"melting_point": {"label": "Melting point", "type": "string"},
"boiling_point": {"label": "Boiling point", "type": "string"},
"solubility": {"label": "Solubility", "type": "string"},
"ph": {"label": "pH", "type": "string"},
"conductivity": {"label": "Conductivity", "type": "string"},
"residue": {"label": "Residue", "type": "string"},
"hazards": {"label": "Hazards", "type": "string", "aliases": ["hazard_class"], "suggested": true},
"toxicity": {"label": "Toxicity", "type": "string"},
"exposure_routes": {"label": "Exposure routes", "type": "string"},
"handling": {"label": "Handling", "type": "string", "aliases": ["handling_status"]},
"storage": {"label": "Storage", "type": "string"},
"stability": {"label": "Stability", "type": "string"},
"developed_by": {"label": "Developed by", "type": "string", "aliases": ["developer"]},
"manufacturer": {"label": "Manufacturer", "type": "string"},
"associated_facility": {"label": "Associated facility", "type": "string"},
"first_recorded": {"label": "First recorded", "type": "string"},
"active_period": {"label": "Active period", "type": "string"},
"status": {"label": "Status", "type": "string", "aliases": ["post_collapse_status"]}
},
"paramOrder": [
"name",
"image",
"image_caption",
"other_names",
"iupac_name",
"formula",
"molar_mass",
"chemical_class",
"compound_type",
"composition",
"function",
"uses",
"physical_state",
"appearance",
"odor",
"density",
"melting_point",
"boiling_point",
"solubility",
"ph",
"conductivity",
"residue",
"hazards",
"toxicity",
"exposure_routes",
"handling",
"storage",
"stability",
"developed_by",
"manufacturer",
"associated_facility",
"first_recorded",
"active_period",
"status"
]
}
</templatedata>

Template:Infobox chemical/doc - Revision history

VU-MaintenanceBot: Document chemical infobox fields