With Mathematica 8's free-form input, you and your students enter a query in Mathematica using plain English to access data about chemical elements from Wolfram|Alpha. Here are some examples of how you can compare elements in Mathematica through a Wolfram|Alpha query (keyboard shortcut is ==):
== compare N, O, F
== density Gold, Silver
== conductivity sulfur, silicon, copper
== melting points of alkaline earth metals
Enjoy!
-Kathy

