Elements and symbols

Task 1
Use the periodic table to complete the table below to show the symbols for the following
elements.

Hydrogen Chlorine Neon

.......................
Carbon
.......................
Fluorine Magnesium
.......................
Potassium
.......................
Lithium
.......................
Silicon
.......................
Beryllium
.......................
Sodium
.......................
....................... .......................
Nitrogen Nickel
....................... .......................
Manganese
....................... .......................
Calcium Cobalt
....................... .......................
Sulphur Aluminium
....................... .......................
Helium Bromine
....................... .......................
Oxygen Copper
....................... .......................
Boron Iodine
....................... .......................

Task 2
Which elements are represented by the following symbols?

Kr Zn As P
.......................................... ......................................... .......................................... ..........................................
Sn Rn Pb Ar
.......................................... ......................................... .......................................... ..........................................

Task 3
The symbols for gold, silver, copper and iron are Au, Ag, Cu and Fe respectively. These elements
were some of the first that mankind discovered and used.
a) Why do you think they have symbols that are not the first two letters of their names? Find
out what their original names were.
b) Underline all the other elements on the sheet whose symbols are different to their initial
letter.

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 Elements and symbols
Answers

Task 1

Hydrogen H Chlorine Cl Neon Ne

Carbon C Nitrogen N Nickel Ni
Fluorine F Magnesium Mg Manganese Mn
Potassium K Calcium Ca Cobalt Co
Lithium Li Sulfur S Aluminium Al
Silicon Si Helium He Bromine Br
Beryllium Be Oxygen O Copper Cu
Sodium Na Boron B Iodine I

Task 2

Kr Zn As P

Krypton Zinc Arsenic Phosphorus

Sn Rn Pb Ar

Tin Radon Lead Argon

Task 3
These elements were originally known by their latin names:

Au Aurum = Gold
Ag Argentum = Silver
Cu Cuprum = Copper
Fe Ferrum = Iron

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