Difference between revisions of "Chemical symbol"
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| − | A chemical symbol is one | + | A chemical symbol is a one-to-three-letter abbreviation used to represent an [[element]]. For example, the element [[hydrogen]]'s chemical symbol is H, while the element [[chlorine]]'s symbol is Cl. Some elements symbols are derived from their [[Latin]] names, so their letters are not necessarily from the elements' modern name. For example, [[lead]]'s symbol is Pb, which is from the Latin word for lead, ''plumbum''. Newly-developed synthetic elements are given temporary names corresponding to their atomic numbers. Element 106 is called Unnilhexium. |
Revision as of 04:07, March 24, 2007
A chemical symbol is a one-to-three-letter abbreviation used to represent an element. For example, the element hydrogen's chemical symbol is H, while the element chlorine's symbol is Cl. Some elements symbols are derived from their Latin names, so their letters are not necessarily from the elements' modern name. For example, lead's symbol is Pb, which is from the Latin word for lead, plumbum. Newly-developed synthetic elements are given temporary names corresponding to their atomic numbers. Element 106 is called Unnilhexium.