1. Chemical Symbols

2. 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.

3. The Periodic Table of the Elements

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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!