Element Symbols That Don't Match Their Names (Latin Symbols)

Why is sodium Na and gold Au? Learn the 11 element symbols that come from Latin and older names: Na (sodium), K (potassium), Fe (iron), Cu (copper), Ag (silver), Sn (tin), Sb (antimony), W (tungsten), Au (gold), Hg (mercury) and Pb (lead). The symbols students mix up most on chemistry tests. Free flashcards.

11 cards Public deck
New to this? Read the study guide Periodic Table of Elements: List of All 118 (Names, Symbols & Atomic Numbers)
Question Answer
Na
Sodium (#11), from Latin "natrium"
K
Potassium (#19), from Latin "kalium"
Fe
Iron (#26), from Latin "ferrum"
Cu
Copper (#29), from Latin "cuprum"
Ag
Silver (#47), from Latin "argentum"
Sn
Tin (#50), from Latin "stannum"
Sb
Antimony (#51), from Latin "stibium"
W
Tungsten (#74), from German "wolfram"
Au
Gold (#79), from Latin "aurum"
Hg
Mercury (#80), from Latin "hydrargyrum"
Pb
Lead (#82), from Latin "plumbum"