Chapter 3 Atoms and Elements

3.2
Elements and Symbols

Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

1
Elements

Elements are
• Pure substances that cannot be separated into
simpler substances by ordinary laboratory
processes
• The building blocks of matter

gold carbon aluminum

Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

2
Sources of Some Element Names

Some elements are

named for planets,
mythological figures,
minerals, colors,
scientists, and
places.

3
Symbols of Elements

A symbol
• Represents the name of an element
• Consists of one or two letters
• Starts with a capital letter

Examples:
1-Letter Symbols 2-Letter Symbols
C carbon Co cobalt
N nitrogen Ca calcium
F fluorine Al aluminum
O oxygen Mg magnesium

4
Symbols from Latin Names

Several symbols are derived from Latin names as shown

below:

Cu, copper (cuprum) Au, gold (aurum)

Fe, iron (ferrum) Ag, silver (argentum)

Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

5
Learning Check

Select the correct symbol for each:

A. Calcium
1) C 2) Ca 3) CA

B. Sulfur
1) S 2) Sl 3) Su

C. Iron
1) Ir 2) FE 3) Fe

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Solution

Select the correct symbol for each:

A. Calcium
2) Ca

B. Sulfur
1) S

C. Iron
3) Fe

7
Learning Check
Select the correct name for each symbol:
A. N
1) neon 2) nitrogen 3) nickel

B. P
1) potassium 2) phlogiston 3) phosphorus

C. Ag
1) silver 2) agean 3) gold

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Solution

Select the correct name for each:

A. N
2) nitrogen

B. P
3) phosphorus

C. Ag
1) silver