def from_string(species_string: str):
        """
        Returns a Dummy from a string representation.

        Args:
            species_string (str): A string representation of a dummy
                species, e.g., "X2+", "X3+".

        Returns:
            A DummySpecie object.

        Raises:
            ValueError if species_string cannot be intepreted.
        """
        m = re.search(r"([A-Z][a-z]*)([0-9.]*)([+\-]*)(.*)", species_string)
        if m:
            sym = m.group(1)
            if m.group(2) == "" and m.group(3) == "":
                oxi = 0
            else:
                oxi = 1 if m.group(2) == "" else float(m.group(2))
                oxi = -oxi if m.group(3) == "-" else oxi
            properties = None
            if m.group(4):
                toks = m.group(4).split("=")
                properties = {toks[0]: float(toks[1])}
            return DummySpecie(sym, oxi, properties)
        raise ValueError("Invalid DummySpecies String")
Returns a Dummy from a string representation.

        Args:
            species_string (str): A string representation of a dummy
                species, e.g., "X2+", "X3+".

        Returns:
            A DummySpecie object.

        Raises:
            ValueError if species_string cannot be intepreted.