Naming Elements and Symbols
Symbols come from names, often Latin.
About this topic
Each element has a one- or two-letter symbol, with the first letter capitalised and the second lower case. Many come from English names (H, C, O), but some from Latin: Na (natrium) for sodium, K (kalium) for potassium, Fe (ferrum) for iron, Au (aurum) for gold and Pb (plumbum) for lead.
Symbols make chemistry a universal language, readable regardless of the speaker's native tongue. The capitalisation matters: Co is cobalt, but CO is the compound carbon monoxide, and Cs is caesium whereas CS is not an element. Newly made elements get temporary three-letter placeholders based on their atomic number, such as ununoctium, until the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) approves a permanent name.
Names honour many things: places, such as americium, francium and germanium; scientists, such as einsteinium, curium and nobelium; and myths, such as titanium and thorium. Element 118 is called oganesson after Yuri Oganessian. Many elements are named from their properties, like chlorine from the Greek for pale green.
Students often mix up symbols, such as using Ca for carbon or Cl for calcium. Reading the periodic table regularly and making flashcards helps. Remember too that the symbol stands for one atom and also for the element in general.
Key ideas
- Na from natrium
- Fe from ferrum
- One capital letter then lowercase
Quick check
Use cases: where Naming Elements and Symbols helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Naming Elements and Symbols before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Naming Elements and Symbols without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Naming Elements and Symbols changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Naming Elements and Symbols in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Chemistry explains medicine, food, cleaning products, fuels and building materials.
Frequently asked questions
What is Naming Elements and Symbols?
Symbols come from names, often Latin.
What will I learn in Naming Elements and Symbols?
Na from natrium. Fe from ferrum. One capital letter then lowercase.
Is Naming Elements and Symbols part of Chemistry?
Yes. It is one of 150 Chemistry topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Naming Elements and Symbols lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Naming Elements and Symbols?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.