Question

List the features of the modern method of representation of elements.

Answer 1

Chemical symbol: It is the modern method of representation of elements which is denoted by a notation of one or two letters representing a chemical element.

• The first letter of the name of the element, usually written in capitals, is used as the symbol.

For example – C for carbon and O for oxygen, N for nitrogen, etc

• If two or more elements have their names starting with the same letter, then a two-letter symbol is used. The first letter of the name is the second letter of the symbol. the first letter is written capital and the second letter is small.

For example – Mg for magnesium, Co for cobalt

• For a few elements, the symbol is taken from their Latin name

For example – the Latin name of gold is aurum and its symbol is Au