Question

A symbol represents an abbreviated form of a/an _________ (atom/element/ molecule).

Answer 1

Symbol:

• The abbreviations used for the lengthy names of elements are called symbols.
• The credit for introducing the symbol of elements goes to Jons Jacob Berzelius (1815), a Swedish chemist who used letters as symbols for elements.
• He suggested to use the first letter of the name of the element as its symbol.
• For example, hydrogen is represented by ($\mathrm{H}$) and oxygen by ($\mathrm{O}$).
• In certain cases, the elements are represented by some prominent letter of their Latin or German names.
• For example, potassium is represented by $\mathrm{K}$ derived from its Latin name Kalium.

Therefore,a symbol represents an abbreviated form of an element.