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Names and Symbols 1 of the Elements At the heart of learning to write chemical names and chemical formulas is the need to know the names and symbols of a fair number of the chemical elements. Your goal is to know and be able to use the names and symbols for the elements whose atomic numbers are 1-38; 46-56; and 78-86. The names must be learned with the correct spelling. It is NOT necessary to memorize the atomic numbers or any other information. It is sufficient to have a good idea of the approximate location of the element on the table to speed up finding elements when you need them. You will find a periodic table of the elements with their atomic numbers and masses several pages back. In your chemistry class, you will almost certainly have access to a periodic table during exams either on the wall in the classroom on as a page attached to the exam. Examples: The element oxygen has the symbol O. The element copper has the symbol Cu. The element with the symbol C is carbon. The element with the symbol Ag is silver Nomenclature Tidbits • There are several element symbols that do not match the name of the element. These element symbols are derived from the original, often Latin or Greek, name of the element. An example is Hg which is derived from hydrargyrum which means watery silver which is very descriptive of the silvery liquid metal mercury. • Many elements are named in honor of people or places which are proper nouns. Even though proper nouns should be capitalized, the element names are NOT capitalized. For example, seaborgium, berkelium, californium, and americium are named after Glenn T. Seaborg, Berkeley, California, and America, respectively, because Seaborg co-discovered the latter three elements while serving as faculty at the University of California, Berkeley in America. Practice Questions: 1. What is the symbol for the element potassium? A) P B) Po C) K D) Pm 2. The element sodium has the symbol __________. 3. What is the name of the element with the symbol S? A) sodium B) sulfur C) selenium D) strontium 4. The element with the symbol Fe is __________. Solutions: 1. What is the symbol for the element potassium? A) P B) Po C) K D) Pm Watch out for trap answers like (A) which look good at first glance. 2. The element sodium has the symbol Na. Be sure to take your time so you don’t accidently go with thoughtless answers like “S” or “So”. 3. What is the name of the element with the symbol S? A) sodium B) sulfur C) selenium D) strontium 4. The element with the symbol Fe is iron. Note that capitalized as “Iron” is NOT correct as element names are not capitalized.
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