Because the symbols are the first one/two letters of their Latin name. For example Iron is Fe because the latin name for iron is ferrum.
addition: There was 'no domination of language English' at the time of discovery of first elements. Mendeleev used latin language.
It was Latin what was used at that period in chemistry, physics and in medicine.
Another example: Sodium (latin name Natrium, short symbol is Na)
Another example Potassium (latin name Kalium, short symbol taken was K)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element#Chemical_symbols
Because the symbols on the Periodic Table are derived from the Latin and/or Greek names for the elements. For example, Iron is noted on the table as Fe, derived from the Latin name of ferrum, as in ferrous oxide (the chemical name for rust).
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Also, the chemical symbols are international. Some seem logical for one language and some for another.
W for TUNGSTEN and K for POTASSIUM seem arbitrary to us but makes sense to a German, who calls them WOLFRAM and KALIUM.
H for HYDROGEN and C for CARBON make sense to us but seems arbitrary to a German, who calls them WASSERSTOFF and KOHLENSTOFF.
Because, some of the elements have names that came from Latin, such as how Iron has the symbol Fe, which comes from the Latin word Ferrum.
The names were never changed, they were in fact translated.
Such as,
Na = sodium
The Latin name here is naturium, so that was used instead
Many elements use Latin or Greek names to derive the chemical symbol on the periodic table. Some othe languages are used to.
Tungsten's symbol is W. This is from the German, wolfram.
Some elements use a symbol that is based on a Latin name (gold is Au from aurum) or an earlier name (tungsten is W from "wolfram").
(see the related question)
Sometimes symbols are derived from the latin or greek name of the elements
Sodium
Latin: Natrium
Symbol: Na
Sometimes the name used is an alternative or the name in another language. For instance potassium is K from the medieval Latin 'kallium'. Tungsten is W from its alternative name, wolfram.
some symbols are based on a Latin name or an earlier name.
Refer to the related link.
Yes but different sorts in different rocks and in the form of compounds as well as elements.
The chemical name of the compound is often based on the names of the elements that are part of it. However, for many simple organic compounds it is not possible to determine the component elements.
Different languages have their own words for elements, but chemical symbols are international, so they provide a universal way of specifying chemicals. A chemical formula is not specific to any language and will make the same sense in any country. Also, many molecules and formulae involve a large number of different elements, or complex arrangements of the same elements, and symbols provide a way to express them without being too long.
a compound
Refer to the related link.
You may be referring to the elements whose symbols do not match their names. Such symbols refer to names for those elements (or something related) in other languages. Examples: Au (gold) comes from the Latin word aurum W (tungsten) comes form the Swedish word wolfram. Tungsten is still sometimes called wolfram. Na (sodium) comes from the Latin word natrium which itself may come from the Egyptian word natron. Natrium is the modern German word for sodium.
Yes but different sorts in different rocks and in the form of compounds as well as elements.
The chemical name of the compound is often based on the names of the elements that are part of it. However, for many simple organic compounds it is not possible to determine the component elements.
Different languages have their own words for elements, but chemical symbols are international, so they provide a universal way of specifying chemicals. A chemical formula is not specific to any language and will make the same sense in any country. Also, many molecules and formulae involve a large number of different elements, or complex arrangements of the same elements, and symbols provide a way to express them without being too long.
When two or more atoms from different elements join together chemically they form a compound. The compound can be ionic or covalent/molecular depending on the elements that are combined.
This combination of symbols is known as a chemical formula.
allotrope
Yes: compounds have to consist of at least two different elements.
Chemical compounds
neutral
a compound