10.1 The atom module
Keywords: viewmol

## 10.1 The `atom` module

`getElement`()
  Returns the `element` object for an atom.

`coordinates`([x, y, z])
  Sets or returns the Cartesian coordinates for an atom. If x, y, and z are given as doubles the Cartesian coordinates are set to x, y, and z. Otherwise a tupel with the x, y, and z coordinates and the name of an atom is returned.

`radius`([rad])
  Sets or returns the Van der Waals radius for an atom. If rad is given it has to be a double. The Van der Waals radius is measured in Ångstrøms.

`radiusScaleFactor`([scaleFactor])
  Sets or returns the scale factor for the radius of an atom. If scaleFactor is given it has to be a double. The scale factor must be greater than or equal zero.

`neutronScatteringFactor`([factor])
  Sets or returns the neutron scattering factor for an atom. If factor is given it has to be a double. The neutron scattering factor must be greater than or equal zero.

`name`([name])
  Sets or returns the name of an atom. If name is given it has to be a string. The maximum length of the string is eight characters.

`replace`(elementSymbol)
  Replaces the atom with an atom of element elementSymbol. elementSymbol has to be a string and a valid element symbol.

`delete`()
  Deletes this atom. Note: Atoms cannot be deleted using Python's `del` operator since Python works on VIEWMOL's data structures.