# Horizontally aligned nodes in TikZ

The first image below looks a bit better than the one on the right, but I had to use phantoms to align the H and I with the line above them. I also forced some vertical space with \\[0.2em].

Both solutions seem hacky. What should I do instead?

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}

\usepackage{chemformula}

\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}[very thick, scale=0.9]
\draw[|-|]  (0,0) node[below, align=center] {\\[0.2em]\ch{\phantom{2}H2}} node[left] {$E_0$} --  (0,3) node[left] {$E_1$};
\draw[|-|]  (1,0) node[below, align=center] {\\[0.2em]\ch{\phantom{2}I2}} node[right] {$E_0$} --  (1,1.5) node[right] {$E_1$};

\begin{scope}[xshift=3 cm]

\draw[|-|]  (0,0) node[below, align=center] {\\[0.2em]\ch{H2}} node[left] {$E_0$} --  (0,3) node[left] {$E_1$};
\draw[|-|]  (1,0) node[below, align=center] {\\[0.2em]\ch{I2}} node[right] {$E_0$} --  (1,1.5) node[right] {$E_1$};
\end{scope}
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

• \ch{H\rlap{2}} works. – John Kormylo Mar 11 '17 at 19:21
• Note that it is probably better to say something like below={.5\baselineskip+.2em} rather than using \\[.2em] with centring. The positioning library may be helpful. All this is off-topic as your question is already answered above. – cfr Mar 12 '17 at 1:58
• @JohnKormylo An answer? – cfr Mar 13 '17 at 22:15
• @cfr - I wasn't sure if this would be regarded as any less hacky. – John Kormylo Mar 13 '17 at 22:45
• @JohnKormylo It is a good answer. Write it down! – Symbol 1 Mar 17 '17 at 19:40

\documentclass[tikz]{standalone}
\draw[|-|]  (0,0) node[below=.2em] {\ch{H\rlap{2}}} node[left] {$E_0$} --  (0,3) node[left] {$E_1$};
\draw[|-|]  (1,0) node[below=.2em] {\ch{I\rlap{2}}} node[right] {$E_0$} --  (1,1.5) node[right] {$E_1$};