Question

List the special features of the representation of elements.

Answer 1

The special features of the representation of elements are as follows:

• The symbols of most of the elements are denoted by the first letter of their names.
• For example, the symbol of hydrogen is H and that of oxygen is O.
• In some cases, the name of more than one element begins with the same letter, for example, carbon and chlorine. In this case, carbon is represented by C, and chlorine is represented by any two letters of its name. Therefore, the symbol of chlorine is Cl.
• When a symbol is represented by two letters of its name, the first letter is written in upper case and the second letter is written in lower case.
• The symbols of some elements are assigned on their scientific or Latin, Greek or German name.
• For example, the symbol Pb of lead is derived from its Latin name plumbum.