NAMING ELEMENTS The chemical symbol and the name

NAMING ELEMENTS The chemical symbol and the name of the elements must be known before starting any discussion in chemistry. There is a correlation between the name and the chemical symbol. The chemical symbol is usually the first or the first and second letter of the name. H stands for the hydrogen atom He is helium Li is lithium Or it could be the first and third letter Mg is magnesium Mn is manganese Or it could be the letters for the “Old” (Latin, Greek, etc. ) name Fe is iron (ferrum: latin) Cu is copper (cuprum)

NAMES OF ELEMENTS TO KNOW H = hydrogen atom He = helium Li = lithium Be = beryllium B = boron C = carbon N = nitrogen atom O = oxygen atom F = fluorine atom Ne = neon Na = sodium (natrium) Mg = magnesium Al = aluminum Si = silicon P = phosphorus S = sulfur Cl = chlorine Ba = barium K = potassium (kalium) Ca = calcium Cr = chromium Fe = iron (ferrum) Hg = mercury Cu = copper (cuprum) I = iodine atom Br = bromine atom Ag = silver Sn = tin Zn = zinc Ar = Argon Ni = nickel Pb = lead Xe = xenon Au = gold

NAMING ELEMENTS • There are 7 homonuclear diatomic elements. These elements do not exist “alone” readily under the conditions experienced on the surface of the Earth. H - hydrogen atom H 2 - hydrogen N - nitrogen atom N 2 - nitrogen O - oxygen atom O 2 - oxygen F - fluorine atom F 2 - fluorine Cl - chlorine atom Cl 2 - chlorine Br - bromine atom Br 2 - bromine I - iodine atom I 2 - iodine You must be extra careful (& specific) when naming these elements

NAMING ELEMENTS PRACTICE PROBLEMS • Name the following elements or give the appropriate symbol: • _____ sulfur S argon Ar • _____ • phosphorus _____ P • copper _____ Cu boron B • _____ • magnesium _____ Mg Ca cobalt _____ calcium _____ Co O 2 carbon _____ oxygen _____ C Al zinc _____ aluminum _____ Zn Na _____ sodium Bromine _____ atom Br Fe mercury _____ iron _____ Hg K gold Au _____ potassium _____