key term - Element Symbol

Definition

An element symbol is a one or two-letter code used to represent a chemical element. It's usually derived from either current English name or Latin name of an element.

Related terms

Chemical Equation:

A representation using symbols and formulas to illustrate what happens during a chemical reaction.

Compound Formula: A formula that shows which atoms and how many atoms are present in a molecule of compound.

Isotope Symbols: These are representations that indicate both atomic number and mass number for specific isotopes.