List of elements by symbol

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Current symbols
2 Symbols not currently used
3 Other symbols that look like element symbols
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

This is a list of chemical elements by symbol, including the current symbols used to identify the chemical elements as recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry, as well as proposed and historical symbols. Also given is each element's atomic number, atomic mass or most stable isotope, group and period numbers on the periodic table, and origin of the symbol if not obvious from the current name of the element.

**Chemical series of the periodic table**
Alkali metals	Alkaline earth metals	Lanthanides	Actinides	Transition metals
Poor metals	Metalloids	Nonmetals	Halogens	Noble gases

[edit] Current symbols

Symbol	Name	Origin of Symbol	Atomic Number	Atomic Mass	Group	Period
Ac	Actinium	Greek aktinos	89	[227]<ref name="fn_1">The element does not have any stable nuclides, and a value in brackets, e.g. [209], indicates the mass number of the longest-lived isotope of the element. However, three elements, Thorium, Protactinium, and Uranium, have a characteristic terrestrial isotopic composition, and thus their atomic mass given.</ref>		7
Ag	Silver	Latin argentum	47	107.8682(2)<ref name="fn_2">The isotopic composition of this element varies in some geological specimens, and the variation may exceed the uncertainty stated in the table.</ref>	11	5
Al	Aluminium (Aluminum)	alumen	13	26.9815386(8)	13	3
Am	Americium	the Americas	95	[243]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Ar	Argon	Greek argon	18	39.948(1)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4">The isotopic composition varies in terrestrial material such that a more precise atomic weight can not be given.</ref>	18	3
As	Arsenic	Greek arsenikos	33	74.92160(2)	15	4
At	Astatine	Greek astatos	85	[210]<ref name="fn_1" />	17	6
Au	Gold	Latin aurum	79	196.966569(4)	11	6
B	Boron	borax and carbon	5	10.811(7)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3">The isotopic composition of the element can vary in commercial materials, which can cause the atomic weight to deviate significantly from the given value.</ref> <ref name="fn_4" />	13	2
Ba	Barium	Greek barys	56	137.327(7)	2	6
Be	Beryllium	beryl	4	9.012182(3)	2	2
Bh	Bohrium	Niels Bohr	107	[264]<ref name="fn_1" />	7	7
Bi	Bismuth	corruption of the German wissmuth	83	208.98040(1)	15	6
Bk	Berkelium	Berkeley, California	97	[247]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Br	Bromine	Greek bromos	35	79.904(1)	17	4
C	Carbon	carbo	6	12.0107(8)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	14	2
Ca	Calcium	calx	20	40.078(4)<ref name="fn_2" />	2	4
Cd	Cadmium	Greek kadmia	48	112.411(8)<ref name="fn_2" />	12	5
Ce	Cerium	Ceres	58	140.116(1)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Cf	Californium	State and University of California	98	[251]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Cl	Chlorine	Greek chloros	17	35.453(2)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	17	3
Cm	Curium	Pierre and Marie Curie	96	[247]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Co	Cobalt	kobold	27	58.933195(5)	9	4
Cr	Chromium	Greek chroma	24	51.9961(6)	6	4
Cs	Caesium (Cesium)	Latin caesius	55	132.9054519(2)	1	6
Cu	Copper	Latin Cuprum	29	63.546(3)<ref name="fn_4" />	11	4
Db	Dubnium	Dubna, Russia	105	[262]<ref name="fn_1" />	5	7
Ds	Darmstadtium	Darmstadt, Germany	110	[271]<ref name="fn_1" />	10	7
Dy	Dysprosium	Greek dysprositos	66	162.500(1)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Er	Erbium	Ytterby, Sweden	68	167.259(3)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Es	Einsteinium	Albert Einstein	99	[252]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Eu	Europium	Europe	63	151.964(1)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
F	Fluorine	Latin fluo	9	18.9984032(5)	17	2
Fe	Iron	Latin ferrum	26	55.845(2)	8	4
Fm	Fermium	Enrico Fermi	100	[257]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Fr	Francium	France	87	[223]<ref name="fn_1" />	1	7
Ga	Gallium	Latin Gallia	31	69.723(1)	13	4
Gd	Gadolinium	gadolinite	64	157.25(3)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Ge	Germanium	Germany	32	72.64(1)	14	4
H	Hydrogen	Greek hydror and gen	1	1.00794(7)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	1	1
He	Helium	Greek helios	2	4.002602(2)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	18	1
Hf	Hafnium	Latin Hafnia	72	178.49(2)	4	6
Hg	Mercury	Latin hydrargyrum	80	200.59(2)	12	6
Ho	Holmium	Latin Holmia	67	164.930 32(2)		6
Hs	Hassium	Hesse, Germany	108	[277]<ref name="fn_1" />	8	7
I	Iodine	Greek ioeides	53	126.904 47(3)	17	5
In	Indium	indigo blue	49	114.818(3)	13	5
Ir	Iridium	Greek iris	77	192.217(3)	9	6
K	Potassium (Kalium)	Latin kalium	19	39.0983(1)	1	4
Kr	Krypton	Greek kryptos	36	83.798(2)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3" />	18	4
La	Lanthanum	lanthanien	57	138.90547(7)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Li	Lithium	Greek lithos	3	6.941(2)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3" /> <ref name="fn_4" /> <ref>The atomic weight of commercial Lithium can vary between 6.939 and 6.996—analysis of the specific material is necessary to find a more accurate value.</ref>	1	2
Lr	Lawrencium	Ernest O. Lawrence	103	[262]<ref name="fn_1" />	3	7
Lu	Lutetium	Latin Lutetia	71	174.967(1)<ref name="fn_2" />	3	6
Md	Mendelevium	Dmitri Mendeleyev	101	[258]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Mg	Magnesium	Magnesia, Greece	12	24.3050(6)	2	3
Mn	Manganese	Latin magnes	25	54.938045(5)	7	4
Mo	Molybdenum	Greek molybdos	42	95.94(2)<ref name="fn_2" />	6	5
Mt	Meitnerium	Lise Meitner	109	[268]<ref name="fn_1" />	9	7
N	Nitrogen	Greek nitron and gen	7	14.0067(2)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	15	2
Na	Sodium	Latin natrium	11	22.98976928(2)	1	3
Nb	Niobium	Niobe	41	92.906 38(2)	5	5
Nd	Neodymium	Greek neos didymos	60	144.242(3)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Ne	Neon	Greek neos	10	20.1797(6)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3" />	18	2
Ni	Nickel	German kupfernickel	28	58.6934(2)	10	4
No	Nobelium	Alfred Nobel	102	[259]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Np	Neptunium	Neptune	93	[237]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
O	Oxygen	Greek oxys and gen	8	15.9994(3)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	16	2
Os	Osmium	osme	76	190.23(3)<ref name="fn_2" />	8	6
P	Phosphorus	Greek phosphoros	15	30.973762(2)	15	3
Pa	Protactinium	Greek protos and actinium	91	231.03588(2)<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Pb	Lead	Latin plumbum	82	207.2(1)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	14	6
Pd	Palladium	Pallas	46	106.42(1)<ref name="fn_2" />	10	5
Pm	Promethium	Prometheus	61	[145]<ref name="fn_1" />		6
Po	Polonium	Poland	84	[210]<ref name="fn_1" />	16	6
Pr	Praseodymium	Greek prasios didymos	59	140.90765(2)		6
Pt	Platinum	Greek platina	78	195.084(9)	10	6
Pu	Plutonium	Pluto	94	[244]<ref name="fn_1" />		7
Ra	Radium	Greek radius	88	[226]<ref name="fn_1" />	2	7
Rb	Rubidium	Latin rubidus	37	85.4678(3)<ref name="fn_2" />	1	5
Re	Rhenium	Rhine Province	75	186.207(1)	7	6
Rf	Rutherfordium	Ernest Rutherford	104	261<ref name="fn_1" />	4	7
Rg	Roentgenium	Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen	111	[272]<ref name="fn_1" />	11	7
Rh	Rhodium	Greek rhodon	45	102.905 50(2)	9	5
Rn	Radon	radium and emanation	86	[220]<ref name="fn_1" />	18	6
Ru	Ruthenium	Latin Ruthenia	44	101.07(2)<ref name="fn_2" />	8	5
S	Sulfur (Sulphur)	sulfur	16	32.065(5)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	16	3
Sb	Antimony	Latin stibium	51	121.760(1)<ref name="fn_2" />	15	5
Sc	Scandium	Scandinavia	21	44.955912(6)	3	4
Se	Selenium	Greek selene	34	78.96(3)<ref name="fn_4" />	16	4
Sg	Seaborgium	Glenn T. Seaborg	106	[266]<ref name="fn_1" />	6	7
Si	Silicon	Latin silex	14	28.0855(3)<ref name="fn_4" />	14	3
Sm	Samarium	samarskite	62	150.36(2)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Sn	Tin	Latin stannum	50	118.710(7)<ref name="fn_2" />	14	5
Sr	Strontium	Latin Strontian	38	87.62(1)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_4" />	2	5
Ta	Tantalum	King Tantalus	73	180.94788(2)	5	6
Tb	Terbium	Ytterby, Sweden	65	158.92535(2)		6
Tc	Technetium	Greek technetos	43	[98]<ref name="fn_1" />	7	5
Te	Tellurium	Greek tellus	52	127.60(3)<ref name="fn_2" />	16	5
Th	Thorium	Thor	90	232.03806(2)<ref name="fn_1" /> <ref name="fn_2" />		7
Ti	Titanium	the Titans	22	47.867(1)	4	4
Tl	Thallium	Greek thallos	81	204.3833(2)	13	6
Tm	Thulium	Thule	69	168.93421(2)		6
U	Uranium	Uranus	92	238.02891(3)<ref name="fn_1" /> <ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3" />		7
Uub	Ununbium	Latin uni and bi	112	[285]<ref name="fn_1" />	12	7
Uuh	Ununhexium	Latin uni and Greek hex	116	[292]<ref name="fn_1" />	16	7
Uuo	Ununoctium	Latin uni and oct	118	[294]<ref name="fn_1" />	18	7
Uup	Ununpentium	Latin uni and Greek pent	115	[288]<ref name="fn_1" />	15	7
Uuq	Ununquadium	Latin uni and quadr	114	[289]<ref name="fn_1" />	14	7
Uut	Ununtrium	Latin uni and Greek tri	113	[284]<ref name="fn_1" />	13	7
V	Vanadium	Vanadis	23	50.9415(1)	5	4
W	Tungsten	German wolfram	74	183.84(1)	6	6
Xe	Xenon	Greek xenos	54	131.293(6)<ref name="fn_2" /> <ref name="fn_3" />	18	5
Y	Yttrium	Ytterby, Sweden	39	88.90585(2)	3	5
Yb	Ytterbium	Ytterby, Sweden	70	173.04(3)<ref name="fn_2" />		6
Zn	Zinc	German zin	30	65.409(4)	12	4
Zr	Zirconium	zircon	40	91.224(2)<ref name="fn_2" />	4	5

**Chemical series of the periodic table**
Alkali metals	Alkaline earth metals	Lanthanides	Actinides	Transition metals
Poor metals	Metalloids	Nonmetals	Halogens	Noble gases

[edit] Symbols not currently used

Chemical Symbol	Name	Atomic Number	Source	Why Not Used
A	Argon	18	Current symbol is Ar.	<ref name="why_not_used">The name/symbol was an isotope's one. </ref>
Ab	Alabamine	85	Discredited claim to discovery of astatine.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Am	Alabamium	85	Discredited claim to discovery of astatine.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
An	Actinon	86	Name given at one time to an isotope of radon identified in the decay chain of actinium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
An	Athenium	99	Proposed name for einsteinium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ao	Ausonium	93	Discredited claim to discovery of neptunium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Az	Azote	7	Former name for nitrogen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Bv	Brevium	91	Former name for protactinium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Bz	Berzelium	59	Suggested name for praseodymium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Cb	Columbium	41	Former name of niobium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Cb	Columbium	95	Suggested name for americium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Cp	Cassiopeium	71	Former name for lutetium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ct	Centurium	100	Proposed name for fermium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ct	Celtium	72	Former name of hafnium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Da	Danubium	43	Suggested name for technetium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Db	Dubnium	104	Proposed name for rutherfordium. The symbol and name were used for element 105.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Di	Didymium	-	Rare earth metal that proved to be a mixture of the elements praseodymium and neodymium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Dp	Decipium	-	Rare earth metal that proved to be a mixture of the elements samarium, neodymium and praseodymium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Eb	Ekaboron	21	Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, scandium closely matched the prediction.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
El	Ekaaluminium	31	Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, gallium closely matched the prediction.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Em	Emanation	86	Also called radium emanation, the name was originally given by Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900. In 1923, this element officially became radon (the name given at one time to ²²²Rn, an isotope identified in the decay chain of radium).	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Em	Ekamangan	43	Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, technetium closely matched the prediction.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Es	Ekasilicon	32	Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, germanium closely matched the prediction.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Es	Esperium	94	Discredited claim to discovery of plutonium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Fa	Francium	87	Current symbol is Fr.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Fr	Florentium	61	Discredited claim to discovery of promethium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Gl	Glucinium	4	Former name of beryllium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ha	Hahnium	105	Proposed name for dubnium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ha	Hahnium	108	Proposed name for hassium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Il	Illinium	61	Discredited claim to discovery of promethium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Io	Ionium	90	Name given at one time to an isotope of thorium identified in the decay chain of uranium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
J	Iodine	53	In some languages, the name for iodine begins with J instead of I.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Jg	Jargonium	72	Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Jo	Joliotium	105	Proposed name for dubnium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ku	Kurchatovium	104	Proposed name for rutherfordium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Lw	Lawrencium	103	Current symbol is Lr.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
M	Muriaticum	17	Former name of chlorine.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ma	Masurium	43	Disputed claim to discovery of technetium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Md	Mendelevium	97	Proposed name for berkelium. The symbol and name were later used for element 101.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Me	Mendelevium	68	Suggested name for erbium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ms	Masrium	49	Discredited claim of discovery of indium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Mt	Meitnium	91	Suggested name for protactinium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Mv	Mendelevium	101	Current symbol is Md.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ng	Norwegium	72	Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ni	Niton	86	Former name for radon.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
No	Norium	72	Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ns	Nielsbohrium	105	Proposed name for dubnium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ns	Nielsbohrium	107	Proposed name for bohrium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Nt	Niton	86	Suggested name for radon.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Nw	Newtonium	67	Suggested name for holmium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ny	Neoytterbium	70	Former name of ytterbium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Od	Odinium	62	Suggested name for samarium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Pc	Policium	110	Proposed name for darmstadtium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Pe	Pelopium	41	Former name for niobium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Po	Potassium	19	Current symbol is K.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Pp	Philippium	-	Rare earth metal that proved to be a mixture of the elements holmium and samarium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Rf	Rutherfordium	106	Proposed name for seaborgium. The symbol and name were instead used for element 104.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Sa	Samarium	62	Current symbol is Sm.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
So	Sodium	11	Current symbol is Na.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Sp	Spectrium	70	Suggested name for ytterbium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
St	Antimony	51	Current symbol is Sb.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Tn	Thoron	86	Name given at one time to an isotope of radon identified in the decay chain of thorium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Tn	Tungsten	74	Current symbol is W.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Tu	Thulium	69	Current symbol is Tm.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Tu	Tungsten	74	Current symbol is W.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Ty	Tyrium	60	Suggested name for neodymium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Unb	Unnilbium	102	Temporary name given to nobelium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Une	Unnilennium	109	Temporary name given to meitnerium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Unh	Unnilhexium	106	Temporary name given to seaborgium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Uno	Unniloctium	108	Temporary name given to hassium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Unp	Unnilpentium	105	Temporary name given to dubnium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Unq	Unnilquadium	104	Temporary name given to rutherfordium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Uns	Unnilseptium	107	Temporary name given to bohrium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Unt	Unniltrium	103	Temporary name given to lawrencium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Unu	Unnilunium	101	Temporary name given to mendelevium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Uun	Ununnilium	110	Temporary name given to darmstadtium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Uuu	Unununium	111	Temporary name given to roentgenium until that permanent name was chosen.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Vi	Virginium	87	Discredited claim to discovery of francium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Vm	Virginium	87	Discredited claim to discovery of francium.	<ref name="why_not_used" />
Yt	Yttrium	39	Current symbol is Y.	<ref name="why_not_used" />

The meaning of symbols in Why Not Used
<references />

[edit] Other symbols that look like element symbols

Ab: albite
Ac: acetate (also used for the element actinium: see above)
Bn: benzyl
Bz: benzoyl; berzelium (an old suggested name for praseodymium).
D: deuterium; (also called ²H)
Et: ethyl
Me: methyl; any metal atom
Ph: phenyl
Pr: propyl (also used for the element praseodymium: see above)
R: some unspecified element or radical
T: tritium; (also called ³H)

[edit] Notes

[edit] References

Element name etymologies. Retrieved July 15, 2005.
Atomic Weights of the Elements 2001, Pure Appl. Chem. 75(8), 1107-1122, 2003. Retrieved June 30, 2005. Atomic weights of elements with atomic numbers from 1-109 taken from this source.
IUPAC Standard Atomic Weights Revised (2005).
WebElements Periodic Table. Retrieved June 30, 2005. Atomic weights of elements with atomic numbers 110-116 taken from this source.

[edit] External links

Periodic tables
Standard table \| Vertical table \| Table with names \| Names and atomic masses (large) \| Names and atomic masses (small) \| Names and atomic masses (text only) \| Inline F-block \| Elements to 218 \| Electron configurations \| Metals and nonmetals \| Table by blocks \| Alternatives
Lists of elements
Name \| Atomic symbol \| Atomic number \| Boiling point \| Melting point \| Density \| Atomic mass
Groups: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18
Periods: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9
Series: Alkalis - Alkaline earths - Lanthanides - Actinides - Transition metals - Poor metals - Metalloids - Nonmetals - Halogens - Noble gases
Blocks: s-block - p-block - d-block - f-block - g-block