upgrade

💏intro to chemistry review

Chemical symbol

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

A chemical symbol is a one- or two-letter abbreviation used to represent an element. Each symbol is derived from the element's name, often in Latin.

Pep mascot

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. A chemical symbol usually consists of one capital letter or a capital letter followed by a lowercase letter.
  2. The periodic table assigns each element a unique chemical symbol.
  3. Symbols are standardized internationally by IUPAC (International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry).
  4. Some symbols are derived from Latin names, such as 'Na' for sodium (Natrium) and 'Fe' for iron (Ferrum).
  5. Chemical symbols are used in chemical equations to denote elements involved in reactions.

Review Questions