Chemical Symbols

Chemical Symbols A chemical symbol is a letter or 2 that is used as an abbreviation for the name of an element. The periodic table of the elements shows the 118 known elements and their symbols.

The Periodic Table of the Elements

Chemical Symbols Some symbols are represented by one letter (e.g. oxygen = O, carbon = C) Some symbols are represented by two letters (e.g. neon = Ne, calcium = Ca)

Chemical Symbols If you look at element 114, you will notice that it has 3 letters in it’s symbol – Uuq, ununquatrium means one one four-ium) which is a temporary name because the element was not proven to be synthesized or sufficiently studied by chemists yet. It recently was given the name Flevorium, Fl, as they found it to be a radioactive, artificial element.

Newest Elements The other newest elements are as follows Atomic Number Element Name Symbol 113 Nihonium Nh 114 Flevorium Fl 115 Moscovium Mc 116 Livervorium Lv 117 Tenessine Ts 118 Oganesson Og

Rules for Writing Chemical Symbols The first letter of the symbol is ALWAYS capitalized. If there is a second letter, it is lowercase. No elements have permanent symbols with more than 2 letters. The chemical symbol represents ONE ATOM of the element.

Chemical Names and Symbols Many elements are named after a geographical place or region or a scientist who discovered them. Modern symbols usually are similar to an elements name. These are some exceptions, where the name comes from the Latin root, and doesn’t match the symbol

Symbols from Latin Names Element Symbol Latin Name Copper Cu  Cuprum Gold Au  Aurum Iron Fe  Ferrum Lead Pb  Plumbum Mercury  Hg  Hydroargyrum Silver  Ag  Argentum Sodium  Na  Natrium

Chemical Symbols Try this website to practise matching element names and symbols. Element Matching Game The Elements Song, by Tom Lehrer sing along if you like!