Symbol

The symbol of an element is a short way of representing an element.

Symbols can be formed as follows:

1) By using the first letter of the English name of the element.

Hydrogen	H	Phosphorus	P
Oxygen	O	Sulphur	S

2) By using the first and second letters of the English name of the element.

Helium	He	Calcium	Ca
Lithium	Li	Cobalt	Co

3) By using the first letter and any other prominent sounding letter of the English name of the element.

Magnesium	Mg	Chromium	Cr
Chlorine	Cl	Manganese	Mn

4) By using the first letter of the Latin name of the element.

Example: Potassium - Kalium - K.

5) By using the first and the second letter of the Latin name of the element, Sodium- Natrium- Na.

Sodium	Natrium	Na	Gold	Aurrum	Au
Copper	Cuprum	Cu	Iron	Ferrum	Fe

6) By using the first and any other prominent sounding letter of the Latin name.

 

Silver	Argentum	Ag	Tin	Stannum	Sn
Lead	Plumbum	Pb	Mercury	Hydragyrum	Hg

 

Remember :

If the symbol has only one letter of the alphabet like in H, O, K, etc., it must be a capital letter. If it has 2 letters, the first is always a capital letter, while the second is always a small letter.

Examples: Na, Cr, Mn etc.

---

 

What Does A Symbol Represent?

A symbol represents one atom of an element.

Example: H stands for one atom of hydrogen.

However, if a symbol has a subscript and a superscript, as given along side, then more in formation can be derived from it.

The subscript 11 shows that one atom of sodium has 11 protons and 11 electrons in it or 11 positively charged, and 11 negatively charged particles and also that the net charge of the atom is NIL.

The distribution of the 11 electrons around the nucleus can be found out as: 2,8,1…. i.e., 2 in the first orbit,8 in the second orbit and 1 in its third orbit. This distribution also tells us that it is a metal, and that its valency is + 1.

The superscript 23, shows that the atom contains 23 dense particles in the nucleus of the atom. The superscript also allows us to calculate the number of neutrons in an atom; this is done by subtracting the subscript from the superscript i.e., 23 - 11=12.