Symbol Match-Up
Match element names to their chemical symbols.
Setting up the bench…
What this lesson covers
Why it matters
Gold is 'Au' and Silver is 'Ag', not 'G' or 'S'. Why do some symbols look nothing like their English names?
Predict first
What is the chemical symbol for Sodium?
The symbol Na comes from sodium's Latin name, 'natrium' — which is why it isn't 'So'.
- So
- S
- Na — correct
- Sd
What you do
Build a neutral sodium atom — 11 protons, 12 neutrons and 11 electrons (mass number 23). Its Latin name, Natrium, is why its symbol is Na.
Check yourself
Which element has the symbol 'Fe'?
Fe stands for 'Ferrum', the Latin name for Iron.
Why is the symbol for Potassium 'K'?
Many symbols derive from Latin: Potassium is Kalium (K), Gold is Aurum (Au), and Silver is Argentum (Ag).
- Fluorine
- Iron — correct
- Fermium
- It is the first letter of its name
- It comes from the Latin name 'Kalium' — correct
- It looks like the shape of the atom
- It is a typo for 'P'