The basics

Typographic chemistry is basically doing chemistry with chemical symbols as elements, and then basing bonding and properties on the symbol.

Bonds
Bonds are the base of chemistry. In typographic chemistry, there are two main types of bonds:


 * Segment bonds, formed between two endpoints, and
 * nitrogen bonds, which are weaker, formed between corners.

For example, hydrogen, whose chemical symbol is H, is and H in typographic chemistry. It has four endpoints, and so can form four segment bonds. It has no corners, so it doesn't form any nitrogen bonds. Nitrogen bonds are weaker than segment bonds.

Free minuscules
Some elements, like helium, have multiple letters. The small letters are called free minuscules, and are weakly bonded to the capital letter. Free minuscules obey a set of laws, which you can read about on the free minuscule page.

Nuclear reactions
Under extreme circumstances, like inside stars, elements can be rearranged. For example, if you have two hydrogens and put then under high heat and pressure, they can turn into five iodines, four made from the 'sides' of the H and one from the two short segments. Some elements, like germanium, can be rearranged when hit be certain particles.