Chemical Symbols Table
The ultimate dictionary of Chemical Abbreviations. Instantly look up any element and discover the hidden Latin history behind specific symbols like Fe, Na, and Ag.
The Secret Language of Atoms
Chemistry wasn't always easy to read. In the dark ages of alchemy, "chemists" kept their discoveries secret by using widely varying, mystical symbols. Gold was a circle with a dot ("Sun"), Silver was a crescent moon, and Iron was the shield of Mars (♂).
By 1800, this was a mess. There were thousands of elements and compounds, and no one standard way to write them. Enter Jöns Jacob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist who proposed a radical idea in 1813:
"The chemical signs ought to be letters, for the greater facility of writing, and not to disfigure a printed book."
His system was simple: use the first letter of the element's name. If that's taken, use the first two. This system is now used by every scientist on Earth.
The "Confusing 11": Why Symbols Don't Match Names
English speakers find 11 symbols particularly tricky because they are based on the element's Latin or German name. Memorize these, and you know the hardest part of the periodic table!
| Symbol | English Name | Latin/German Root | Easy Memory Hook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Na | Sodium | Natrium | So-da? Na (No). |
| K | Potassium | Kalium | K is the first letter of Kalium, or Special K cereal. |
| Fe | Iron | Ferrum | Fe-male... Iron Man. |
| Cu | Copper | Cuprum | A Cup full of copper pennies. |
| Ag | Silver | Argentum | Ag! I lost my silver necklace! |
| Au | Gold | Aurum | Au (Hey)! Give me that gold! |
| Hg | Mercury | Hydrargyrum | Greek for "Water-Silver". |
| Pb | Lead | Plumbum | Plumbers originally used lead pipes. |
| Sn | Tin | Stannum | StaNNum contains N and N... TiN. |
| Sb | Antimony | Stibium | Anti-Stibium? |
| W | Tungsten | Wolfram (German) | Wolfram Alpha or Wolf eating Tin. |
Capitalization is Critical
In chemistry, a capital letter always signifies the start of a new element.
No "J" or "Q"
Fun Fact: The letters J and Q are the only letters in the English alphabet that do not appear anywhere on the periodic table—neither in a symbol nor in an element name!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the symbol for Sodium Na?
The symbol Na comes from the Latin name "Natrium". In ancient times, sodium carbonate was known as natron. When the element was isolated, it retained this latin root to distinguish it from Sulfur (S) and other S-names.
Why is Iron called Fe?
Fe stands for "Ferrum", the classical Latin word for iron. This linguistic heritage is why iron-containing compounds are technically called "ferrous" (Fe²⁺) or "ferric" (Fe³⁺) oxides.
Who invented chemical symbols?
The modern system of using 1-2 letter abbreviations was introduced by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1813. Before him, alchemists used confusing drawings (like circles and crescents) which were impossible to print in books.
Why is Potassium K?
K stands for "Kalium", which comes from "alkali" (Arabic: al-qaly, meaning plant ashes). Potash (potassium carbonate) was originally obtained by soaking plant ashes in water.
What is the symbol for Tungsten?
Tungsten is W. This comes from "Wolfram", the German name for the element. The mineral wolframite famously "devoured" tin during smelting like a wolf, hence the name.
Are chemical symbols case sensitive?
Yes, drastically so! The first letter is always Capitalized and the second is lowercase. For example, "Co" is the metal Cobalt, but "CO" is the poisonous gas Carbon Monoxide. "Pb" is Lead, but "PB" would mean Phosphorus Boron bond.
Why do recently discovered elements have 3 letters?
When a new superheavy element is discovered but not yet officially named by IUPAC, it gets a temporary systematic placeholder name with a 3-letter symbol. For example, Element 118 was "Ununoctium" (Uuo) before it was officially named "Oganesson" (Og).
What is the symbol for Lead?
Lead is Pb, from the Latin "Plumbum". This is why water pipes are called "plumbing"—they used to be made of lead!
Why is Mercury Hg?
Hg stands for "Hydrargyrum", typically translated as "liquid silver" or "water silver" (Hydra = Water, Argyros = Silver). This perfectly describes mercury's appearance as a shiny liquid metal at room temperature.
Are symbols the same in every language?
Yes! This is the beauty of the Berzelius system. Whether you speak English, Russian, Japanese, or Hindi, the chemical symbol for Iron is always Fe. This creates a universal language for scientists worldwide.