0
There are 13 elements with one-letter symbols: B (boron), C (carbon), F (fluorine), H (hydrogen), I (iodine), K (potassium), N (nitrogen), O (oxygen), P (phosphorus), S (sulfur), U (uranium), V (vanadium) and Y (yttrium). That single letter must always be capitalized.
That the names have only one letter is not relevant to their chemical properties; it just means that the single letter seemed the most appropriate way of abbreviating them at the time of discovery/categorization.
You'll notice that most of those elements' one-letter abbreviations are just the first letter of the elements name. The conspicuous exception is potassium, abbreviated K. It could probably have been abbreviated as Po, Pt or Pa -- polonium, platinum and protactinium were discovered later -- but K was chosen nonetheless. This is derived from the invented Neo-Latin word Kalium, derived from Germanic languages with similar words meaning potash (potash being the source of both the metal potassium and the English name for it).
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
One of two letter designation for an element?
Chemical symbol
What is true about the First letter of a chemical symbol?
Not always... There are chemical elements beginning with the same letter - for example Copper and Cobalt. However - every chemical symbol does consist of two letters.
In a properly written chemical symbol what is the first figure?
A chemical symbol refers to a chemical element; the first letter of a symbol depends on the chemical element.
What is the name of the two letter code for an element?
This is the chemical symbol of a chemical element.
What is CO the equation for?
'CO' is NOT an equation, but a chemical formula. 'CO' is Carbon Monoxide. NB Do not confuse with 'Co' , which is the chemical symbol for cobalt. NNB For all chemical symbols; a single letter symbol is ALWAYS a capital letter, e.g. 'C' Carbon. For a two letter chemical symbol, the first letter is always a capital letter and the second letter is always small/lower case, e.g. 'Fe' Iron.
One of two letter designation for an element?
Chemical symbol
A one or two letter representation of an element?
Chemical Symbol.
What is the chemical symbol for uranium?
The chemical symbol for Uranium is the letter "U".
What is one or two letter abriviation for a chemical element?
It is refered to as the Elements symbol.
How many elements have the letter X in their chemical symbol?
Xenon has the chemical symbol Xe.
What is an One or two letter representation of an element is called?
This is known as the chemical symbol for the element.
What is a one or two letter representation of an element called?
This is known as the chemical symbol for the element.
What is true about the First letter of a chemical symbol?
Not always... There are chemical elements beginning with the same letter - for example Copper and Cobalt. However - every chemical symbol does consist of two letters.
How are chemical symbol written?
The chemical symbol of a chemical element is derived fom the his name: the first letter or the first two letters.
In a properly written chemical symbol what is the first figure?
A chemical symbol refers to a chemical element; the first letter of a symbol depends on the chemical element.
Is each element abbreviated by one or two letter?
Yes. That is the element's chemical symbol.
Is there a convention for writing a chemical symbol?
The convention used for the chemical symbol of an element is so that you can determine the atomic mass.
