Chemical symbol

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chemical symbols are the abbreviations used in chemistry for chemical elements, functional groups and chemical compounds. Element symbols for chemical elements normally consist of one or two letters from the Latin alphabet and are written with the first letter capitalised. In Chinese, each chemical element has a dedicated character, usually created for the purpose (see Chemical elements in East Asian languages). However, Latin symbols are also used, especially in formulas.

Earlier symbols for chemical elements stem from classical Latin and Greek vocabulary. For some elements, this is because the material was known in ancient times, while for others, the name is a more recent invention. For example, Pb is the symbol for lead (plumbum in Latin); Hg is the symbol for mercury (hydrargyrum in Greek); and He is the symbol for helium (a new Latin name) because helium was not known in ancient Roman times. Some symbols come from other sources, like W for tungsten (Wolfram in German) which was not known in Roman times.

A three-letter temporary symbol may be assigned to a newly synthesized (or not yet synthesized) element. For example, "Uno" was the temporary symbol for hassium (element 108) which had the temporary name of unniloctium, based on the digits of its atomic number. There are also some historical symbols that are no longer officially used.

In addition to the letters for the element itself, additional details may be added to the symbol as superscripts or subscripts a particular isotope, ionization, or oxidation state, or other atomic detail.[1] A few isotopes have their own specific symbols rather than just an isotopic detail added to their element symbol.

Annotated example of an atomic symbol

Attached subscripts or superscripts specifying a nuclide or molecule have the following meanings and positions:

  • The nucleon number (mass number) is shown in the left superscript position (e.g., 14N). This number defines the specific isotope. Various letters, such as "m" and "f" may also be used here to indicate a nuclear isomer (e.g., 99mTc). Alternately, the number here can represent a specific spin state (e.g., 1O2). These details can be omitted if not relevant in a certain context.
  • The proton number (atomic number) may be indicated in the left subscript position (e.g., 64Gd). The atomic number is redundant to the chemical element, but is sometimes used to emphasize the change of numbers of nucleons in a nuclear reaction.
  • If necessary, a state of ionization or an excited state may be indicated in the right superscript position (e.g., state of ionization Ca2+).
  • The number of atoms of an element in a molecule or chemical compound is shown in the right subscript position (e.g., N2 or Fe2O3). If this number is one, it is normally omitted - the number one is implicitly understood if unspecified.
  • A radical is indicated by a dot on the right side (e.g., Cl• for a neutral chlorine atom). This is often omitted unless relevant to a certain context because it is already deducible from the charge and atomic number, as generally true for nonbonded valence electrons in skeletal structures.

Many functional groups also have their own chemical symbol, e.g. Ph for the phenyl group, and Me for the methyl group.

The periodic table, elements being denoted by their symbols

A list of current, dated, as well as proposed and historical signs and symbols is included here with its signification. Also given is each element's atomic number, atomic weight, or the atomic mass of the most stable isotope, group and period numbers on the periodic table, and etymology of the symbol.

Hazard pictographs are another type of symbols used in chemistry.

Symbols for chemical elements[]

List of chemical elements
Z[I] Symbol Name Origin of name[2][3] Group Period Atomic weight[4][5] (u (±))
1 H Hydrogen Greek elements hydro- and -gen, meaning 'water-forming' 1 1 1.008[II][III][IV][V]
2 He Helium Greek hḗlios, 'sun' 18 1 4.002602(2)[II][IV]
3 Li Lithium Greek líthos, 'stone' 1 2 6.94[II][III][IV][VI][V]
4 Be Beryllium beryl, a mineral (ultimately from the name of Belur in southern India) 2 2 9.0121831(5)
5 B Boron borax, a mineral (from Arabic bawraq) 13 2 10.81[II][III][IV][V]
6 C Carbon Latin carbo, 'coal' 14 2 12.011[II][IV][V]
7 N Nitrogen Greek nítron and -gen, meaning 'niter-forming' 15 2 14.007[II][IV][V]
8 O Oxygen Greek oxy- and -gen, meaning 'acid-forming' 16 2 15.999[II][IV][V]
9 F Fluorine Latin fluere, 'to flow' 17 2 18.998403163(6)
10 Ne Neon Greek néon, 'new' 18 2 20.1797(6)[II][III]
11 Na Sodium English soda (the symbol Na is derived from New Latin natrium, coined from German Natron, 'natron') 1 3 22.98976928(2)
12 Mg Magnesium Magnesia, a district of Eastern Thessaly in Greece 2 3 24.305[V]
13 Al Aluminium alumina, from Latin alumen (gen. alumni), 'bitter salt, alum' 13 3 26.9815384(3)
14 Si Silicon Latin silex, 'flint' (originally silicium) 14 3 28.085[IV][V]
15 P Phosphorus Greek phōsphóros, 'light-bearing' 15 3 30.973761998(5)
16 S Sulfur Latin sulphur, 'brimstone' 16 3 32.06[II][IV][V]
17 Cl Chlorine Greek chlōrós, 'greenish yellow' 17 3 35.45[II][III][IV][V]
18 Ar Argon Greek argós, 'idle' (because of its inertness) 18 3 39.948[II][IV][V]
19 K Potassium New Latin potassa, 'potash' (the symbol K is derived from Latin kalium) 1 4 39.0983(1)
20 Ca Calcium Latin calx, 'lime' 2 4 40.078(4)[II]
21 Sc Scandium Latin Scandia, 'Scandinavia' 3 4 44.955908(5)
22 Ti Titanium Titans, the sons of the Earth goddess of Greek mythology 4 4 47.867(1)
23 V Vanadium Vanadis, an Old Norse name for the Scandinavian goddess Freyja 5 4 50.9415(1)
24 Cr Chromium Greek chróma, 'colour' 6 4 51.9961(6)
25 Mn Manganese corrupted from magnesia negra; see Magnesium 7 4 54.938043(2)
26 Fe Iron English word (the symbol Fe is derived from Latin ferrum) 8 4 55.845(2)
27 Co Cobalt German Kobold, 'goblin' 9 4 58.933194(3)
28 Ni Nickel Nickel, a mischievous sprite of German miner mythology 10 4 58.6934(4)
29 Cu Copper English word, from Latin cuprum, from Ancient Greek Kýpros 'Cyprus' 11 4 63.546(3)[IV]
30 Zn Zinc Most likely from German Zinke, 'prong' or 'tooth', though some suggest Persian sang, 'stone' 12 4 65.38(2)
31 Ga Gallium Latin Gallia, 'France' 13 4 69.723(1)
32 Ge Germanium Latin Germania, 'Germany' 14 4 72.630(8)
33 As Arsenic French arsenic, from Greek arsenikón 'yellow arsenic' (influenced by arsenikós, 'masculine' or 'virile'), from a West Asian wanderword ultimately from Old Iranian *zarniya-ka, 'golden' 15 4 74.921595(6)
34 Se Selenium Greek selḗnē, 'moon' 16 4 78.971(8)[IV]
35 Br Bromine Greek brômos, 'stench' 17 4 79.904[V]
36 Kr Krypton Greek kryptós, 'hidden' 18 4 83.798(2)[II][III]
37 Rb Rubidium Latin rubidus, 'deep red' 1 5 85.4678(3)[II]
38 Sr Strontium Strontian, a village in Scotland 2 5 87.62(1)[II][IV]
39 Y Yttrium Ytterby, a village in Sweden 3 5 88.90584(1)
40 Zr Zirconium zircon, a mineral 4 5 91.224(2)[II]
41 Nb Niobium Niobe, daughter of king Tantalus from Greek mythology 5 5 92.90637(1)
42 Mo Molybdenum Greek molýbdaina, 'piece of lead', from mólybdos, 'lead' 6 5 95.95(1)[II]
43 Tc Technetium Greek tekhnētós, 'artificial' 7 5 [97][VII]
44 Ru Ruthenium New Latin Ruthenia, 'Russia' 8 5 101.07(2)[II]
45 Rh Rhodium Greek rhodóeis, 'rose-coloured', from rhódon, 'rose' 9 5 102.90549(2)
46 Pd Palladium the asteroid Pallas, considered a planet at the time 10 5 106.42(1)[II]
47 Ag Silver English word (The symbol derives from Latin argentum) 11 5 107.8682(2)[II]
48 Cd Cadmium New Latin cadmia, from King Kadmos 12 5 112.414(4)[II]
49 In Indium Latin indicum, 'indigo' (colour found in its spectrum) 13 5 114.818(1)
50 Sn Tin English word (The symbol derives from Latin stannum) 14 5 118.710(7)[II]
51 Sb Antimony Latin antimonium, the origin of which is uncertain: folk etymologies suggest it is derived from Greek antí ('against') + mónos ('alone'), or Old French anti-moine, 'Monk's bane', but it could plausibly be from or related to Arabic ʾiṯmid, 'antimony', reformatted as a Latin word. (The symbol derives from Latin stibium 'stibnite'.) 15 5 121.760(1)[II]
52 Te Tellurium Latin tellus, 'the ground, earth' 16 5 127.60(3)[II]
53 I Iodine French iode, from Greek ioeidḗs, 'violet' 17 5 126.90447(3)
54 Xe Xenon Greek xénon, neuter form of xénos 'strange' 18 5 131.293(6)[II][III]
55 Cs Caesium Latin caesius, 'sky-blue' 1 6 132.90545196(6)
56 Ba Barium Greek barýs, 'heavy' 2 6 137.327(7)
57 La Lanthanum Greek lanthánein, 'to lie hidden' 6 138.90547(7)[II]
58 Ce Cerium the dwarf planet Ceres, considered a planet at the time 6 140.116(1)[II]
59 Pr Praseodymium Greek prásios dídymos, 'green twin' 6 140.90766(1)
60 Nd Neodymium Greek néos dídymos, 'new twin' 6 144.242(3)[II]
61 Pm Promethium Prometheus of Greek mythology 6 [145][VII]
62 Sm Samarium samarskite, a mineral named after Colonel Vasili Samarsky-Bykhovets, Russian mine official 6 150.36(2)[II]
63 Eu Europium Europe 6 151.964(1)[II]
64 Gd Gadolinium gadolinite, a mineral named after Johan Gadolin, Finnish chemist, physicist and mineralogist 6 157.25(3)[II]
65 Tb Terbium Ytterby, a village in Sweden 6 158.925354(8)
66 Dy Dysprosium Greek dysprósitos, 'hard to get' 6 162.500(1)[II]
67 Ho Holmium New Latin Holmia, 'Stockholm' 6 164.930328(7)
68 Er Erbium Ytterby, a village in Sweden 6 167.259(3)[II]
69 Tm Thulium Thule, the ancient name for an unclear northern location 6 168.934218(6)
70 Yb Ytterbium Ytterby, a village in Sweden 6 173.045(10)[II]
71 Lu Lutetium Latin Lutetia, 'Paris' 3 6 174.9668(1)[II]
72 Hf Hafnium New Latin Hafnia, 'Copenhagen' (from Danish havn) 4 6 178.49(2)
73 Ta Tantalum King Tantalus, father of Niobe from Greek mythology 5 6 180.94788(2)
74 W Tungsten Swedish tung sten, 'heavy stone' (The symbol is from wolfram, the old name of the tungsten mineral wolframite) 6 6 183.84(1)
75 Re Rhenium Latin Rhenus, 'the Rhine' 7 6 186.207(1)
76 Os Osmium Greek osmḗ, 'smell' 8 6 190.23(3)[II]
77 Ir Iridium Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow 9 6 192.217(2)
78 Pt Platinum Spanish platina, 'little silver', from plata 'silver' 10 6 195.084(9)
79 Au Gold English word (The symbol derives from Latin aurum) 11 6 196.966570(4)
80 Hg Mercury Mercury, Roman god of commerce, communication, and luck, known for his speed and mobility (The symbol is from the element's Latin name hydrargyrum, derived from Greek hydrárgyros, 'water-silver') 12 6 200.592(3)
81 Tl Thallium Greek thallós, 'green shoot or twig' 13 6 204.38[V]
82 Pb Lead English word (The symbol derives from Latin plumbum) 14 6 207.2(1)[II][IV]
83 Bi Bismuth German Wismut, from weiß Masse 'white mass', unless from Arabic 15 6 208.98040(1)[VII]
84 Po Polonium Latin Polonia, 'Poland' (the home country of Marie Curie) 16 6 [209][VII]
85 At Astatine Greek ástatos, 'unstable' 17 6 [210][VII]
86 Rn Radon radium 18 6 [222][VII]
87 Fr Francium France 1 7 [223][VII]
88 Ra Radium French radium, from Latin radius, 'ray' 2 7 [226][VII]
89 Ac Actinium Greek aktís, 'ray' 7 [227][VII]
90 Th Thorium Thor, the Scandinavian god of thunder 7 232.0377(4)[VII][II]
91 Pa Protactinium proto- (from Greek prôtos, 'first, before') + actinium, which is produced through the radioactive decay of protactinium 7 231.03588(1)[VII]
92 U Uranium Uranus, the seventh planet in the Solar System 7 238.02891(3)[VII]
93 Np Neptunium Neptune, the eighth planet in the Solar System 7 [237][VII]
94 Pu Plutonium the dwarf planet Pluto, considered the ninth planet in the Solar System at the time 7 [244][VII]
95 Am Americium The Americas, as the element was first synthesised on the continent, by analogy with europium 7 [243][VII]
96 Cm Curium Pierre Curie and Marie Curie, French physicists and chemists 7 [247][VII]
97 Bk Berkelium Berkeley, California, where the element was first synthesised, by analogy with terbium 7 [247][VII]
98 Cf Californium California, where the element was first synthesised 7 [251][VII]
99 Es Einsteinium Albert Einstein, German physicist 7 [252][VII]
100 Fm Fermium Enrico Fermi, Italian physicist 7 [257][VII]
101 Md Mendelevium Dmitri Mendeleev, Russian chemist and inventor who proposed the periodic table 7 [258][VII]
102 No Nobelium Alfred Nobel, Swedish chemist and engineer 7 [259][VII]
103 Lr Lawrencium Ernest O. Lawrence, American physicist 3 7 [266][VII]
104 Rf Rutherfordium Ernest Rutherford, British chemist and physicist 4 7 [267][VII]
105 Db Dubnium Dubna, Russia, where the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is located 5 7 [268][VII]
106 Sg Seaborgium Glenn T. Seaborg, American chemist 6 7 [269][VII]
107 Bh Bohrium Niels Bohr, Danish physicist 7 7 [270][VII]
108 Hs Hassium New Latin Hassia, 'Hesse' (a state in Germany) 8 7 [270][VII]
109 Mt Meitnerium Lise Meitner, Austrian physicist 9 7 [278][VII]
110 Ds Darmstadtium Darmstadt, Germany, where the element was first synthesised 10 7 [281][VII]
111 Rg Roentgenium Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen, German physicist 11 7 [282][VII]
112 Cn Copernicium Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish astronomer 12 7 [285][VII]
113 Nh Nihonium Japanese Nihon, 'Japan' (where the element was first synthesised) 13 7 [286][VII]
114 Fl Flerovium Flerov Laboratory of Nuclear Reactions, part of JINR, where the element was synthesised; itself named after Georgy Flyorov, Russian physicist 14 7 [289][VII]
115 Mc Moscovium Moscow Oblast, Russia, where the element was first synthesised 15 7 [290][VII]
116 Lv Livermorium Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, which collaborated with JINR on its synthesis 16 7 [293][VII]
117 Ts Tennessine Tennessee, United States 17 7 [294][VII]
118 Og Oganesson Yuri Oganessian, Russian physicist 18 7 [294][VII]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Z is the standard symbol for atomic number
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al The isotopic composition of this element varies in some geological specimens, and the variation may exceed the uncertainty stated in the table.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g The isotopic composition of the element can vary in commercial materials, which can cause the atomic weight to deviate significantly from the given value.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o The isotopic composition varies in terrestrial material such that a more precise atomic weight can not be given.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m The value listed is the conventional atomic-weight value suitable for trade and commerce. The actual value may differ depending on the isotopic composition of the sample. Since 2009, IUPAC provides the standard atomic-weight values for these elements using the interval notation. The corresponding standard atomic weights are:
    • Hydrogen: [1.00784, 1.00811]
    • Lithium: [6.938, 6.997]
    • Boron: [10.806, 10.821]
    • Carbon: [12.0096, 12.0116]
    • Nitrogen: [14.00643, 14.00728]
    • Oxygen: [15.99903, 15.99977]
    • Magnesium: [24.304, 24.307]
    • Silicon: [28.084, 28.086]
    • Sulfur: [32.059, 32.076]
    • Chlorine: [35.446, 35.457]
    • Argon: [39.792, 39.963]
    • Bromine: [79.901, 79.907]
    • Thallium: [204.382, 204.385]
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al 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, four such elements, bismuth, thorium, protactinium, and uranium, have characteristic terrestrial isotopic compositions, and thus their standard atomic weights are given.

Antimatter atoms are denoted by a bar above the symbol for their matter counterpart, so e.g. H is the symbol for antihydrogen.

Symbols and names not currently used[]

The following is a list of symbols and names formerly used or suggested for elements, including symbols for placeholder names and names given by discredited claimants for discovery.

Symbol Name Atomic
number		 Notes Why not
used		 Refs
A Argon 18 A used for Argon until 1957. Current symbol is Ar. [nb 1] [6]
Ab Alabamine 85 Discredited claim to discovery of astatine. [nb 2] [7][8]
Ad Aldebaranium 70 Former name for ytterbium. [nb 2]
Ah Anglohelvetium 85 Discredited claim to discovery of astatine. [nb 2] [9]
Ak Alkalinium 87 Discredited claim to discovery of francium. [nb 2] [7]
Am Alabamine 85 Discredited claim to discovery of astatine. The symbol Am is now used for americium. [nb 2] [7][8]
An Athenium 99 Proposed name for einsteinium. [nb 3]
Ao Ausonium 93 Discredited claim to discovery of neptunium. [nb 2] [7]
At Austriacum 84 Discredited claim to discovery of polonium. The symbol At is now used for astatine. [nb 2]
Az Azote 7 Former name for nitrogen. [nb 1]
Bo Bohemium 93 Discredited claim to discovery of neptunium. [nb 2]
Bo Boron 5 Current symbol is B. [nb 1]
Bv Brevium 91 Former name for protactinium. [nb 1]
Bz Berzelium 90 Baskerville wrongly believed berzelium to be a new element. Was actually thorium. [9]
Cb Columbium 41 Former name for niobium. [nb 1] [7][9]
Ch Chromium 24 Current symbol is Cr. [nb 1]
Cl Columbium 41 Former name for niobium. The symbol Cl is now used for chlorine. [nb 1]
Cm Catium 87 Proposed name for francium. The symbol Cm is now used for curium. [nb 3]
Cn Carolinium 90 Baskerville wrongly believed carolinium to be a new element. Was actually thorium. The symbol Cn is now used for copernicium. [9]
Cp Cassiopeium 71 Former name for lutetium. [nb 1]
Cp Copernicium 112 Current symbol is Cn. [nb 1]
Ct Celtium 72 Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium. [nb 2]
Ct Centurium 100 Proposed name for fermium. [nb 3]
Cy Cyclonium 61 Proposed name for promethium. [nb 3]
D Didymium 59/60 Mixture of the elements praseodymium and neodymium. Mosander wrongly believed didymium to be an element. [10]
Da Davyum 43 Discredited claim to discovery of technetium. [nb 2] [7]
Db Dubhium 69 Eder wrongly believed dubhium to be a new element. Was actually thulium. The symbol Db is now used for dubnium.
Db Dubnium 104 Proposed name for rutherfordium. The symbol and name were instead used for element 105. [nb 1][nb 3] [7]
Dc Decipium 62 Delafontaine wrongly believed decipium to be a new element. Was actually samarium.
Dc Dvicaesium 87 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, francium closely matched the prediction. [nb 3][nb 4]
De Denebium 69 Eder wrongly believed denebium to be a new element. Was actually thulium.
Di Didymium 59/60 Mixture of the elements praseodymium and neodymium. Mosander wrongly believed didymium to be an element. [10]
Do Dor 85 Discredited claim to discovery of astatine. [nb 2] [9]
Dn Dubnadium 118 Proposed name for oganesson. [nb 3]
Dp Decipium 62 Delafontaine wrongly believed decipium to be a new element. Was actually samarium.
Ds Dysprosium 66 Current symbol is Dy. The symbol Ds is now used for darmstadtium. [nb 1]
Dt Dvitellurium 84 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, polonium closely matched the prediction. [nb 3][nb 4]
E Einsteinium 99 Current symbol is Es. [nb 1]
E Erbium 68 Current symbol is Er. [nb 1]
Ea Ekaaluminium 31 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, gallium closely matched the prediction. [nb 3][nb 4]
Eb Ekaboron 21 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, scandium closely matched the prediction. [nb 3][nb 4] [7]
Eb Erebodium 42 Alexander Pringle wrongly believed erebodium to be a new element. Was actually molybdenum.
El Ekaaluminium 31 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, gallium closely matched the prediction. [nb 3][nb 4] [7]
Em Ekamanganese 43 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, technetium closely matched the prediction. [nb 3][nb 4] [7]
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).		 [nb 1] [7]
Em Emanium 89 Alternate name formerly proposed for actinium. [nb 3]
Es Ekasilicon 32 Name given by Mendeleev to a then undiscovered element. When discovered, germanium closely matched the prediction.
The symbol Es is now used for einsteinium.		 [nb 3][nb 4] [7]
Es Esperium 94 Discredited claim to discovery of plutonium. The symbol Es is now used for einsteinium. [nb 2] [7]
Et Ekatantalum 91 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, protactinium closely matched the prediction. [nb 3][nb 4]
Ex Euxenium 72 Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium. [nb 2]
Fa Francium 87 Current symbol is Fr. [nb 1]
Fl Florentium 61 Discredited claim to discovery of promethium. The symbol Fl is now used for flerovium. [nb 2]
Fl Fluorine 9 Current symbol is F. The symbol Fl is now used for flerovium. [nb 1]
Fr Florentium 61 Discredited claim to discovery of promethium. The symbol Fr is now used for francium. [nb 2] [7]
G Glucinium 4 Former name for beryllium. [nb 1]
Gh Ghiorsium 118 Discredited claim to discovery of oganesson. [nb 2]
Gl Glucinium 4 Former name for beryllium. [nb 1] [7]
Ha Hahnium 105 Proposed name for dubnium. [nb 3]
Hn Hahnium 108 Proposed name for hassium. [nb 3] [7]
Hv Helvetium 85 Discredited claim to discovery of astatine. [nb 2] [9]
Hy Mercury 80 Hy from the Greek hydrargyrum for "liquid silver". Current symbol is Hg. [nb 1] [6]
I Iridium 77 Current symbol is Ir. The symbol I is now used for iodine. [nb 1]
Ic Incognitium 65 Demarçay wrongly believed incognitium to be a new element. Was actually terbium.
Il Illinium 61 Discredited claim to discovery of promethium. [nb 2] [7]
Il Ilmenium 41/73 Mixture of the elements niobium and tantalum. R. Hermann wrongly believed ilmenium to be an element.
Io Ionium 65 Demarçay wrongly believed ionium to be a new element. Was actually terbium.
J Jodium 53 Former name for iodine. [nb 1]
Jg Jargonium 72 Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium. [nb 2] [7]
Jl Joliotium 105 Proposed name for dubnium. [nb 3] [7]
Jp Japonium 113 Proposed name for nihonium. [nb 3]
Ka Potassium 19 Current symbol is K. [nb 1]
Ku Kurchatovium 104 Proposed name for rutherfordium. [nb 3] [7]
L Lithium 3 Current symbol is Li. [nb 1]
Lw Lawrencium 103 Current symbol is Lr. [nb 1]
M Muriaticum 17 Former name for chlorine. [nb 1]
Ma Manganese 25 Current symbol is Mn. [nb 1]
Ma Masurium 43 Disputed claim to discovery of technetium. [nb 2] [7]
Md Mendelevium 97 Proposed name for berkelium. The symbol and name were later used for element 101. [nb 1][nb 3]
Ml Moldavium 87 Discredited claim to discovery of francium. [nb 2] [9]
Ms Magnesium 12 Current symbol is Mg. [nb 1]
Ms Masrium 88 Discredited claim to discovery of radium. [nb 2]
Ms Masurium 43 Disputed claim to discovery of technetium. [nb 2]
Ms Mosandrium 65 Smith wrongly believed mosandrium to be a new element. Was actually terbium.
Mv Mendelevium 101 Current symbol is Md. [nb 1]
Ng Norwegium 72 Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium. [nb 2]
No Norium 72 Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium. The symbol No is now used for nobelium. [nb 2]
Np Neptunium 91 Discredited claim to discovery of protactinium. The symbol and name were later used for element 93. [nb 2] [11]
Np Nipponium 43 Discredited claim to discovery of technetium. The symbol Np is now used for neptunium. [nb 2] [7]
Ns Nielsbohrium 105 Proposed name for dubnium. [nb 3] [7]
Ns Nielsbohrium 107 Proposed name for bohrium. [nb 3] [7]
Nt Niton 86 Former name for radon. [nb 1] [7]
Ny Neoytterbium 70 Former name for ytterbium. [nb 1]
P Lead 82 Current symbol is Pb. The symbol P is now used for phosphorus. [nb 1]
Pa Palladium 46 Current symbol is Pd. The symbol Pa is now used for protactinium. [nb 1]
Pe Pelopium 41 Former name for niobium. [nb 1]
Ph Phosphorus 15 Current symbol is P. [nb 1]
Pl Palladium 46 Current symbol is Pd. [nb 1]
Pm Polymnestum 33 Alexander Pringle wrongly believed polymnestum to be a new element. Was actually arsenic. The symbol Pm is now used for promethium.
Po Potassium 19 Current symbol is K. The symbol Po is now used for polonium. [nb 1]
Pp Philippium 67 Delafontaine wrongly believed philippium to be a new element. Was actually holmium.
R Rhodium 45 Current symbol is Rh. (The symbol is now sometimes used for an alkyl group.) [nb 1]
Rd Radium 88 Current symbol is Ra. [nb 1]
Rf Rutherfordium 106 Proposed name for seaborgium. The symbol and name were instead used for element 104. [nb 1][nb 3] [7]
Ro Rhodium 45 Current symbol is Rh. [nb 1]
Sa Samarium 62 Current symbol is Sm. [nb 1] [7]
So Sodium 11 Current symbol is Na. [nb 1]
Sq Sequanium 93 Discredited claim to discovery of neptunium. [nb 2]
St Antimony 51 Current symbol is Sb. [nb 1]
St Tin 50 Current symbol is Sn. [nb 1]
Tm Trimanganese 75 Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, rhenium closely matched the prediction. The symbol Tm is now used for thulium. [nb 3][nb 4]
Tn Tungsten 74 Current symbol is W. [nb 1]
Tr Terbium 65 Current symbol is Tb. [nb 1]
Tu Thulium 69 Current symbol is Tm. [nb 1]
Tu Tungsten 74 Current symbol is W. [nb 1]
Unb Unnilbium 102 Temporary name given to nobelium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Une Unnilennium 109 Temporary name given to meitnerium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Unh Unnilhexium 106 Temporary name given to seaborgium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uno Unniloctium 108 Temporary name given to hassium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Unp Unnilpentium 105 Temporary name given to dubnium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Unq Unnilquadium 104 Temporary name given to rutherfordium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uns Unnilseptium 107 Temporary name given to bohrium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Unt Unniltrium 103 Temporary name given to lawrencium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Unu Unnilunium 101 Temporary name given to mendelevium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uub Ununbium 112 Temporary name given to copernicium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uuh Ununhexium 116 Temporary name given to livermorium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uun Ununnilium 110 Temporary name given to darmstadtium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uuo Ununoctium 118 Temporary name given to oganesson until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uup Ununpentium 115 Temporary name given to moscovium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uuq Ununquadium 114 Temporary name given to flerovium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uus Ununseptium 117 Temporary name given to tennessine until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uut Ununtrium 113 Temporary name given to nihonium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Uuu Unununium 111 Temporary name given to roentgenium until it was permanently named by IUPAC. [nb 4]
Ur Uralium 75 Discredited claim to discovery of rhenium. [nb 2]
Ur Uranium 92 Current symbol is U. [nb 1]
Vc Victorium 64 Crookes wrongly believed victorium to be a new element. Was actually gadolinium.
Vi Victorium 64 Crookes wrongly believed victorium to be a new element. Was actually gadolinium.
Vi Virginium 87 Discredited claim to discovery of francium. [nb 2] [7]
Vm Virginium 87 Discredited claim to discovery of francium. [nb 2] [7]
Va Vanadium 23 Current symbol is V. [nb 1]
Wo Tungsten 74 Current symbol is W. [nb 1]
X Xenon 54 Current symbol is Xe. The symbol X is now used for any halogen. [nb 1]
Yt Yttrium 39 Current symbol is Y. [nb 1] [7]

Alchemical symbols[]

The following ideographic symbols were employed in alchemy to symbolize elements known since ancient times. Not included in this list are spurious elements, such as the classical elements fire and water, and substances now known to be compounds. Many more symbols were in at least sporadic use: one early 17th-century alchemical manuscript lists 22 symbols for mercury alone.[12]

Planetary names and symbols for the metals – the seven planets and seven metals known since Classical times in Europe and the Mideast – was ubiquitous in alchemy. The association of what are anachronistically known as planetary metals started breaking down with the discovery of antimony, bismuth and zinc in the 16th century. Alchemists would typically call the metals by their planetary names, e.g. "Saturn" for lead and "Mars" for iron; compounds of tin, iron and silver continued to be called "jovial", "martial" and "lunar"; or "of Jupiter", "of Mars" and "of the moon", through the 17th century. The tradition remains today with the name of the element mercury, where chemists decided the planetary name was preferable to common names like "quicksilver", and in a few archaic terms such as lunar caustic (silver nitrate) and saturnism (lead poisoning).[12]

Alchemical symbols for the modern elements
Symbol Element Atomic
number		 Notes
⊛ Magnesium 12
WIKI