Why do some elements have symbols that are different form their names?

Answer 1

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)

Answer 2

Elements have symbols that are different from their names because the symbols are typically derived from their Latin names. This provides a standardized way to represent elements across different languages and ensures consistency in scientific communication. For example, Fe for iron comes from its Latin name "ferrum."

Answer 3

Before chemistry became a science, alchemists had designed arcane symbols for both metals and common compounds. These were however used as abbreviations in diagrams or procedures; there was no concept of atoms combining to form molecules. With his advances in the atomic theory of matter, John Dalton devised his own simpler symbols, based on circles, which were to be used to depict molecules.The current system of chemical notation was invented by Berzelius. In this typographical system chemical symbols are not used as mere abbreviations - though each consists of letters of the Latin alphabet - they are symbols intended to be used by peoples of all languages and alphabets. The first of these symbols were intended to be fully universal; since Latin was the common language of science at that time, they were abbreviations based on the Latin names of metals - Fe comes from Ferrum, Ag from Argentum. The symbols were not followed by a period (full stop) as abbreviations were. Later chemical elements were also assigned unique chemical symbols, based on the name of the element, but not necessarily in English. For example, sodium has the chemical symbol 'Na' after the Latin natrium. The same applies to "W" (wolfram) for tungsten, "Hg" (hydrargyrum) for mercury, "K" (kalium) for potassium, "Au" (aurum) for gold, "Pb" (plumbum) for lead, and "Sb" (stibium) for antimony.Chemical symbols are understood internationally when element names might need to be translated. There are sometimes differences; for example, the Germans have used "J" instead of "I" for iodine, so the character would not be confused with a roman numeral.The first letter of a chemical symbol is always capitalized, as in the preceding examples, and the subsequent letters, if any, are always lower case (small letters).samantha-hera-pasigsci(06-02-09)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_element#Chemical_symbols

Answer 4

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).

--------------------------

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.

Answer 5

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.

Answer 6

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.

Answer 7

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)

Answer 8

Sometimes symbols are derived from the latin or greek name of the elements

Sodium

Latin: Natrium

Symbol: Na

Answer 9

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.

Answer 10

some symbols are based on a Latin name or an earlier name.