Directory `graphics/pgf/contrib/tikz-chemlab`

README.md

tikz-chemlab

Version: v1.0.0

A TikZ-based reimplementation of the well-known pst-labo package for drawing chemical laboratory glassware.

Overview

tikz-chemlab provides macros for a variety of devices used mainly for chemical applications. Since most of these devices have a standardised design, tikz-chemlab spares you the trouble of having to create them manually. All basic objects are included in the file tikz-chemlabObj.tex and are loaded during the start of tikz-chemlab.

This is a TikZ port of pst-labo (v2.07, 2025/07/15) by Denis Girou, Christophe Jorssen, Manuel Luque, and Herbert Voß. The port uses English command names with the tkz prefix instead of the original French pst names, and all option keys have been translated to English.

Files

File	Role
`tikz-chemlab.sty`	LaTeX package wrapper (loads TikZ + main file)
`tikz-chemlab.tex`	Main implementation (parameter system + high-level macros)
`tikz-chemlabObj.tex`	Shape library (low-level drawing primitives)

Place these three files in the same directory or in the TeX search path.

Installation

Load the package in the preamble:

\usepackage{tikz-chemlab}

This automatically loads TikZ and the required libraries (arrows.meta, calc, patterns, shadings, decorations.pathmorphing, decorations.pathreplacing).

Compilation

tikz-chemlab works with any LaTeX engine that supports TikZ:

pdflatex — fully supported (unlike pst-labo, which requires PostScript)
xelatex — fully supported
lualatex — fully supported
tectonic — fully supported

No PostScript dependency. No latex → dvips → ps2pdf pipeline needed.

Quick Start

\documentclass{standalone}
\usepackage{tikz-chemlab}
\begin{document}
\begin{tikzpicture}[scale=0.5]
  \tkzTestTube
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

Available Macros

Macro	Description
`\tkzTestTube`	Test tube / glass container (tube, roundFlask, beaker, erlenmeyer, reagentBottle, volumetricFlask, watchGlass)
`\tkzHeatTube`	Test tube with heating (Bunsen burner, hotplate, bubbling)
`\tkzRoundFlask`	Round-bottom flask (with reflux condenser, double tube)
`\tkzHeatFlask`	Round-bottom flask with Bunsen burner
`\tkzFunnel`	Funnel with test tube
`\tkzGraduatedCylinder`	Graduated cylinder (measuring cylinder)
`\tkzPipette`	Pipette
`\tkzLargePipette`	Large pipette
`\tkzTitration`	Titration setup (burette + beaker + optional pH-meter)
`\tkzDistillation`	Fractional distillation apparatus
`\tkzSeparatoryFunnel`	Separating funnel on support stand
`\tkzStand`	Support stand (retort stand) with clamp
`\tkzColumn`	Distillation column

Key Options

Option	Default	Description
`glassType`	`tube`	Type of glass container
`stopper`	`false`	Insert a stopper
`clamp`	`false`	Attach a test-tube clamp
`tiltAngle`	`0`	Tilt angle in degrees (−65…+65)
`liquidLevel1/2/3`	`50/0/0`	Liquid levels (0–100, percentage)
`liquidStyle1/2/3`	`liquidStyle1/2/3`	Liquid styles
`substance`	`(empty)`	Substance macro
`solid`	`(empty)`	Solid substance macro
`burette`	`true`	Show/hide burette
`pHMeter`	`false`	Show pH-meter
`magneticStirrer`	`true`	Show magnetic stirrer / hotplate
`bunsenBurner`	`true`	Show Bunsen burner
`bubbling`	`false`	Add bubbling test tube
`gasCollection`	`false`	Add gas-collection vessel
`label`	`false`	Display label
`Number`	`(empty)`	Label text
`buretteLevel`	`20`	Burette liquid level
`buretteColor`	`VeryPaleOrange`	Burette liquid colour
`TapOpen`	`false`	Separating funnel tap open/closed

Line Width Styles

Six predefined styles available via \chemlabset{style=...}:

Style	Outline	Ellipse	Tube ellipse	Graduation
`default`	0.053 cm	0.07 cm	0.08 cm	0.02 cm
`publication`	0.4 pt	0.6 pt	0.8 pt	0.4 pt
`presentation`	0.8 pt	1.2 pt	1.6 pt	0.6 pt
`schematic`	0.6 pt	0.8 pt	1.2 pt	0.4 pt
`draft`	0.4 pt	0.4 pt	0.4 pt	0.4 pt
`bold`	1.2 pt	1.6 pt	1.6 pt	0.8 pt

Line widths automatically scale with the TikZ scale factor.

Migration from pst-labo

pst-labo	tikz-chemlab
`\pstTubeEssais`	`\tkzTestTube`
`\pstDosage`	`\tkzTitration`
`\pstEprouvette`	`\tkzGraduatedCylinder`
`\pstBallon`	`\tkzRoundFlask`
`\pstEntonnoir`	`\tkzFunnel`
`\pstSeparateFunnel`	`\tkzSeparatoryFunnel`
`\pstChauffageTube`	`\tkzHeatTube`
`\pstChauffageBallon`	`\tkzHeatFlask`
`\pstDistillation`	`\tkzDistillation`
`\pstpipette`	`\tkzPipette`
`\pstSupport`	`\tkzStand`
`\pscolon`	`\tkzColumn`

Key mappings: tubePenche → tiltAngle, niveauLiquide1 → liquidLevel1, bouchon → stopper, becBunsen → bunsenBurner, etiquette → label, etc.

See the full documentation for complete mapping tables.

Documentation

tikz-chemlab-doc.tex / tikz-chemlab-doc.pdf — English documentation
tikz-chemlab-zh-doc.tex / tikz-chemlab-zh-doc.pdf — Chinese documentation (中文使用手册)

Credits

Original pst-labo authors:

Denis Girou
Christophe Jorssen
Manuel Luque
Herbert Voß

tikz-chemlab is a TikZ port that preserves the original visual appearance and default values as closely as possible. All shape coordinates were derived from the original pst-laboObj.tex.

License

This work is distributed under the LaTeX Project Public License v1.3c.

Download the contents of this package in one zip archive (648.3k).

tikz-chemlab – A TikZ-based reimplementation for drawing chemical laboratory glassware

This package provides macros for drawing a variety of devices used mainly for chemical applications. Since most of these devices have a standardised design, tikz-chemlab spares you the trouble of having to create them manually. All basic objects are included in the file tikz-chemlabObj.tex and are loaded during the start of the package.

tikz-chemlab works with any LaTeX engine that supports TikZ. No PostScript dependency. No latex → dvips → ps2pdf pipeline needed.

Package	tikz-chemlab
Bug tracker	https://github.com/aihua/tikz-chemlab/issues
Repository	https://github.com/aihua/tikz-chemlab
Developers	https://github.com/aihua/
Version	1.0.0 2026-08-03
Licenses	The LaTeX Project Public License 1.3c
Maintainer	Aihua Wang
Contained in	TeX Live as tikz-chemlab
Topics	PGF TikZ Chemistry

Directory graphics/pgf/contrib/tikz-chemlab