1. H stands for the hydrogen atom He is helium Li is lithium
NAMING ELEMENTS
The chemical symbol and the name of the elements must be known before starting any discussion in chemistry. There is a correlation between the name and the chemical symbol.
The chemical symbol is usually the first or the first and second letter of the name.
H stands for the hydrogen atom
He is helium Li is lithium
Or it could be the first and third letter
Mg is magnesium Mn is manganese
Or it could be the letters for the “Old” (Latin, Greek, etc.) name
Fe is iron (ferrum: latin) Cu is copper (cuprum)

2. NAMES OF ELEMENTS TO KNOW
H = hydrogen atom Si = silicon Ag = silver
He = helium P = phosphorus Sn = tin
Li = lithium S = sulfur Zn = zinc
Be = beryllium Cl = chlorine Ar = Argon
B = boron Ba = barium Ni = nickel
C = carbon K = potassium (kalium) Pb = lead
N = nitrogen atom Ca = calcium Xe = xenon
O = oxygen atom Cr = chromium Au = gold
F = fluorine atom Fe = iron (ferrum)
Ne = neon Hg = mercury
Na = sodium (natrium) Cu = copper (cuprum)
Mg = magnesium I = iodine atom
Al = aluminum Br = bromine atom

3. NAMING ELEMENTS
There are 7 homonuclear diatomic elements.
These elements do not exist “alone” readily under the conditions experienced on the surface of the Earth.
H - hydrogen atom H2 - hydrogen
N - nitrogen atom N2 - nitrogen
O - oxygen atom O2 - oxygen
F - fluorine atom F2 - fluorine
Cl - chlorine atom Cl2 - chlorine
Br - bromine atom Br2 - bromine
I - iodine atom I2 - iodine
You must be extra careful (& specific) when naming these elements

4. NAMING ELEMENTS PRACTICE PROBLEMS
Name the following elements or give the appropriate symbol:
_____ S _____ calcium _____ Co
_____ Ar _____ oxygen _____ C
_____ P _____ aluminum _____ Zn
_____ Cu _____ sodium _____ Br
_____ B _____ iron _____ Hg
_____ Mg _____ potassium _____ Au Ca
cobalt
sulfur O2
argon
carbon
phosphorus Al
zinc
copper Na
Bromine atom Fe
boron
mercury K
magnesium
gold