Element Symbols You Should Know

Element Symbols You Should Know Name:

Per:

Every Elements has a symbol. All the elements have symbols. The symbols are used as a kind of shorthand for writing chemical formulas and equations. Many scientists only write the symbols and never write the true name of the element. The system used for making the symbols is as follows.

One-Letter Symbols. Fourteen (14) elements on the periodic table have one-letter symbols. The one letter symbols are always capitalized. Example: Carbon = C

Two-Letter Symbols. Ninety-five (95) elements have two-letter symbols. In these elements the first letter is always capitalized and the second letter is always in the lower case. Example: Neon = Ne

Three-Letter Symbols. The last three (3) elements in this periodic table have three-letter symbols. The first letter is always capitalized and the last two are in the lwer case. These are all new elements and have not yet been officially named. New elements are given Latin names that correspond to their atomic numbers. Some periodic tables today list elements up to #118. Example: ununbium = Uub

Directions: Look up each of the following elements in your periodic table and correctly write the symbol in the space provided. These elements are elements you should know.

Aluminum ______ Iron ______ Potassium ______

Argon ______ Lithium ______ Silicon ______

Beryllium ______ Lead ______ Silver ______

Boron ______ Magnesium ______ Sulfur ______

Calcium ______ Mercury ______ Sodium ______

Carbon ______ Neon ______

Chlorine ______ Nickel ______

Copper ______

Nickel ______

Fluorine ______

Gold ______ Nitrogen ______ Tin ______

Helium ______ Oxygen ______ Uranium ______

Hydrogen ______ Phosphorus ______ Zinc ______

Iodine ______