Question

Explain how elements got their symbols.

Answer 1

Elements

Elements are pure substances containing one kind of atoms only. each of the elements has its unique properties. the atoms of the elements exhibit the same properties and they cannot be separated or broken down into their constituent particles physically or chemically.

Representation of Elements

• The representation of an element using a short form or abbreviation of its name is called the chemical symbol of the element.
• In old times. elements were represented pictorially by using pictograms or pictographs.
• Later the elements were named after the place where they were found first, for example, the symbol of copper is $\mathrm{Cu}$, which is derived from its Latin name cuprum which means ‘from the island of Cyprus'.
• In the modern method of representation of elements, letters representing the names of the element are abbreviated as a symbol.
• The first letter of the element is abbreviated as its symbol and the first letter is written as a capital letter. for example $\mathrm{V}$for vanadium, $\mathrm{B}$ for boron, etc.
• If two or more elements have the same first letter, then a two-letter symbol is used. the first letter of the element will be the first letter of the symbol which is followed by a non-repeating letter of the name of the element will be the second letter of the symbol. the first letter was written in capital letters and the second letter was a small letter. for example $\mathrm{Sr}$ for strontium and $\mathrm{Si}$ for silicon.
• For some elements the English name and Latin name will be different and so their symbols are derived from their Latin names, for example, the elation name of sodium is ‘Natrium’ and its symbol is $\mathrm{Na}$. similarly, the Latin name of gold is ‘Aurum’ and its symbol is $\text{'}\mathrm{Au}\text{'}$