Elements and Their Symbols and Atomic Numbers | Periodic Table

Chemists often rely on the periodic table of elements to explore chemical elements and their periodic properties. The table displays elements in a way that demonstrates the periodicity of their chemical properties. However, the table typically shows only the element’s symbol, which may not necessarily be its full name.

While some element symbols are straightforward and closely resemble the name of the element, others have Latin roots that make them more complex. For instance, the element silver is represented by the symbol Ag, derived from its Latin name, “Argentum.” Similarly, the symbol Fe is used for iron and can be traced back to the Latin word for iron, “Ferrum.” This makes it challenging for newcomers to the field of chemistry to learn the names of all the elements on the periodic table, since the symbols may not always match the English names of the elements.