In order to have a better understanding of a subject like Chemistry, it is necessary to learn the language of chemistry because the subject chemistry has its own language such as symbol, formula, equation, ion, valency, reaction and so on. A chemical symbol represents a particular element in short form. For example, the symbol of sodium is ‘Na’, the symbol of Sulphur is ‘S’ and so on. To be frank, symbols are like alphabet of Chemistry. You can learn more about symbols in different sections given below.

After learning the letters of alphabet of a language, the next task is to learn words and words and nothing but the combination of letters to form a meaningful string. Similarly, after learning the symbols of elements, we learn the formulae of compounds. When the atoms of different elements are combined in a certain ratio, compounds are formed. Thus, a formula is the representation of a compound in Chemistry. For example, the formula of water H2O (i.e. combination of hydrogen and water), the formula of Sodium Chloride is NaCl (combination of Sodium and Chlorine) and so on.

But, you must be wondering why atoms combine; How do they combine ? ; In which ratio do they combine ? and so on. Right ? In order to know the answers to these questions, we need to have the knowledge of valency.

Once we know how to write the formulae of compounds, the next task is to understand how compounds combine and form reactions. Chemical equations are like sentences. And after understanding how chemical equations are formed, the next task is to learn how to balance an equation. In this section, we shall have a basic idea about what we refer to as ‘The Language of Chemistry’.

Symbol

The names of elements in Chemistry are sometimes long and hence it is difficult to use them. For this reason, symbols and shorthand notions are used to represent them.

Thus, a chemical symbol is a notation of one or two letters representing a chemical element. In general, the first letter of an element is used as symbol. However, there are also symbols consisting of two or more letters. When a symbol consists of two letters, the first letter is always capitalized.

Examples of Symbols (First letter of element)

Name of element

Symbol

Hydrogen

H

Oxygen

O

Nitrogen

N

Iodine

I

Carbon

C

Sulphur

S

Boron

B

 

Examples of Symbols (First two letters of element)

Name of element

Symbol

Calcium

Ca

Barium

Ba

Silicon

Si

Neon

Ne

Argon

Ar


In some cases, the symbols are taken from the Latin name instead of the English name of the element.


Examples of Symbols (From Latin name)

English

Name

Latin

Name

Symbol

Sodium

Natrium

Na

Potassium

Kalium

K

Silver

Argentum

Ag

Iron

Ferrum

Fe

Mercury

Hydrogyrum

Hg

Copper

Cuprum

Cu

Gold

Aurum

Au










 

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