2. Elements and Symbols
• Element: An element is a pure substance
which contains only one kind of atoms.
Example: Gold, silver, platinum.
• Symbols: The letters used to represent the
elements are called chemical symbols.
3. To write the chemical symbol:
• The first letter is always represented by a capital letter
followed by small letter.
• Some elements may have 1 letter (first letter) as the
symbol.
• Some elements may have 2 letters (first 2 letters) as
the symbol.
• Some elements may have 2 letters (first and third
letter) as the symbol.
• Some elements may have 2 letters (first and some
other letter in that element) as the symbol.
• Some element symbol is written using their Latin/old
name.
4. CASE 1: ONE LETTER (FIRST LETTER) AS SYMBOL
OF THE ELEMENT
ELEMENT SYMBOL
Hydrogen H
Oxygen O
Carbon C
Boron B
Nitrogen N
Fluorine F
Phosphorus P
Sulphur S
Iodine I
5. CASE 2: 2 LETTERS (FIRST 2 LETTERS) OF THE
ELEMENT
ELEMENT SYMBOL
Helium He
Lithium Li
Beryllium Be
Neon Ne
Aluminium Al
Silicon Si
Argon Ar
Calcium Ca
Titanium Ti
Cobalt Co
Nickel Ni
Bromine Br
Krypton Kr
Xenon Xe
Bismuth Bi
6. CASE 3: 2 LETTERS (FIRST AND THIRD
LETTER) OF THE ELEMENT
ELEMENT SYMBOL
Magnesium Mg
Chlorine Cl
Chromium Cr
Manganese Mn
Zinc Zn
Arsenic As
Scandium Sa
7. CASE 4: 2 LETTERS (FIRST AND SOME
OTHER LETTER) OF THE ELEMENT
ELEMENT SYMBOL
Palladium Pd
Platinum Pt
8. CASE 5: THE SYMBOL REPRESENTED FROM LATIN
NAME/ OLD NAME OF THE ELEMENT.
ELEMENT LATIN/OLD
NAME
SYMBO
L
Sodium Natrium Na
Potassium Kallium K
Iron Ferrum Fe
Copper Cuprum Cu
Tin Stannum Sn
Silver Argentum Ag
Gold Aurum Au
Mercury Hydra gyrum Hg
Tungsten Wolfram W
Lead Plumbum Pb
