List of elements by symbol

This is a list of chemical elements by symbol, including the current signification used to identify the periodic table, and etymology of the symbol.

NOTE: placing one's cursor over the entry in the etymology column will display a modern English translation for words of Greek, Latin, or other origin.

periodic table

Metals						Metalloids	Nonmetals
Alkali metals	Alkaline earth metals	Inner transition elements		Transition elements	Other metals		Other nonmetals	Halogens	Noble gases
		Lanthanides	Actinides

Current symbols

Symbol	Name	Etymology of Symbol	Atomic Number	Relative Atomic Mass	Group	Period
Ac	Actinium	corruption of the Greek aktinos	89	[227]^[1]		7
Ag	argentum	47	107.8682(2)^[2]	11	5
Al	Aluminium (Aluminum)	Latin alumen	13	26.9815386(8)	13	3
Am	Americium	the Americas	95	[243]^[1]		7
Ar	argon	18	39.948(1)^[2] ^[3]	18	3
As	Arsenic	Greek arsenikos	33	74.92160(2)	15	4
At	Astatine	Greek astatos	85	[210]^[1]	17	6
Au	aurum	79	196.966569(4)	11	6
B	Boron	borax	5	10.811(7)^[2] ^[4] ^[3]	13	2
Ba	barys	56	137.327(7)	2	6
Be	beryl	4	9.012182(3)	2	2
Bh	Bohrium	Neils Bohr	107	[264]^[1]	7	7
Bi	Bismuth	corruption of the German wissmuth	83	208.98040(1)	15	6
Bk	Berkelium	Berkeley, California	97	[247]^[1]		7
Br	Bromine	Greek bromos	35	79.904(1)	17	4
C	carbo	6	12.0107(8)^[2] ^[3]	14	2
Ca	calx	20	40.078(4)^[2]	2	4
Cd	kadmia	48	112.411(8)^[2]	12	5
Ce	Cerium	Ceres	58	140.116(1)^[2]		6
Cf	Californium	State and University of California	98	[251]^[1]		7
Cl	Chlorine	Greek chloros	17	35.453(2)^[2] ^[4] ^[3]	17	3
Cm	Marie Curie and the traditional -um ending	96	[247]^[1]		7
Co	Cobalt	corruption of the German kobold	27	58.933195(5)	9	4
Cr	Chromium	Greek chroma	24	51.9961(6)	6	4
Cs	Caesium (Cesium)	Latin caesius	55	132.9054519(2)	1	6
Cu	Copper	Latin Cuprum	29	63.546(3)^[3]	11	4
Db	Dubnium	Dubna, Russia	105	[262]^[1]	5	7
Ds	Darmstadt, Germany	110	[271]^[1]	10	7
Dy	Dysprosium	Greek dysprositos	66	162.500(1)^[2]		6
Er	Erbium	Ytterby, Sweden	68	167.259(3)^[2]		6
Es	Einsteinium	Albert Einstein	99	[252]^[1]		7
Eu	Europium	Europe	63	151.964(1)^[2]		6
F	Fluorine	Latin fluo	9	18.9984032(5)	17	2
Fe	ferrum	26	55.845(2)	8	4
Fm	Enrico Fermi	100	[257]^[1]		7
Fr	Francium	France	87	[223]^[1]	1	7
Ga	Gallium	Latin Gallia	31	69.723(1)	13	4
Gd	gadolinite	64	157.25(3)^[2]		6
Ge	Germanium	Germany	32	72.64(1)	14	4
H	Hydrogen	Greek hydror	1	1.00794(7)^[2] ^[4] ^[3]	1	1
He	helios	2	4.002602(2)^[2] ^[3]	18	1
Hf	Hafnium	Latin Hafnia	72	178.49(2)	4	6
Hg	argyrum	80	200.59(2)	12	6
Ho	Holmium	Latin Holmia	67	164.930 32(2)		6
Hs	Hassium	Hesse, Germany	108	[277]^[1]	8	7
I	ioeides	53	126.904 47(3)	17	5
In	indigo blue	49	114.818(3)	13	5
Ir	Iridium	Greek iris	77	192.217(3)	9	6
K	kalium	19	39.0983(1)	1	4
Kr	Krypton	Greek kryptos	36	83.798(2)^[2] ^[4]	18	4
La	Lanthanum	Greek lanthanien	57	138.90547(7)^[2]		6
Li	lithos	3	6.941(2)^[2] ^[4] ^[3] ^[5]	1	2
Lr	Lawrencium	Ernest O. Lawrence	103	[262]^[1]	3	7
Lu	Lutetium	Latin Lutetia	71	174.967(1)^[2]	3	6
Md	Dmitri Mendeleyev	101	[258]^[1]		7
Mg	Magnesium	Magnesia, Greece	12	24.3050(6)	2	3
Mn	magnes	25	54.938045(5)	7	4
Mo	molybdos	42	95.94(2)^[2]	6	5
Mt	Lise Meitner	109	[268]^[1]	9	7
N	nitron	7	14.0067(2)^[2] ^[3]	15	2
Na	natrium	11	22.98976928(2)	1	3
Nb	Niobium	Niobe	41	92.906 38(2)	5	5
Nd	Neodymium	Greek neos didymos	60	144.242(3)^[2]		6
Ne	Neon	Greek neos	10	20.1797(6)^[2] ^[4]	18	2
Ni	kupfernickel	28	58.6934(2)	10	4
No	Alfred Nobel	102	[259]^[1]		7
Np	Neptunium	Neptune	93	[237]^[1]		7
O	oxys	8	15.9994(3)^[2] ^[3]	16	2
Os	Osmium	Greek osme	76	190.23(3)^[2]	8	6
P	phosphoros	15	30.973762(2)	15	3
Pa	actinium	91	231.03588(2)^[1]		7
Pb	plumbum	82	207.2(1)^[2] ^[3]	14	6
Pd	Palladium	Pallas and the traditional -dium ending	46	106.42(1)^[2]	10	5
Pm	Promethium	Prometheus	61	[145]^[1]		6
Po	Polonium	Poland	84	[210]^[1]	16	6
Pr	prasios	59	140.90765(2)		6
Pt	platina	78	195.084(9)	10	6
Pu	Plutonium	Pluto	94	[244]^[1]		7
Ra	Radium	Latin radius	88	[226]^[1]	2	7
Rb	rubidus	37	85.4678(3)^[2]	1	5
Re	Rhenium	German Rheinprovinz	75	186.207(1)	7	6
Rf	Ernest Rutherford	104	261^[1]	4	7
Rg	Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen	111	[272]^[1]	11	7
Rh	Rhodium	Greek rhodon	45	102.905 50(2)	9	5
Rn	emanation	86	[220]^[1]	18	6
Ru	Ruthenium	Latin Ruthenia	44	101.07(2)^[2]	8	5
S	sulfur	16	32.065(5)^[2] ^[3]	16	3
Sb	Antimony	Latin stibium	51	121.760(1)^[2]	15	5
Sc	Scandium	Scandinavia	21	44.955912(6)	3	4
Se	Selenium	Greek selene	34	78.96(3)^[3]	16	4
Sg	Glenn T. Seaborg	106	[266]^[1]	6	7
Si	silex	14	28.0855(3)^[3]	14	3
Sm	samarskite	62	150.36(2)^[2]		6
Sn	stannum	50	118.710(7)^[2]	14	5
Sr	Strontium	Latin Strontian	38	87.62(1)^[2] ^[3]	2	5
Ta	Tantalum	King Tantalus	73	180.94788(2)	5	6
Tb	Terbium	Ytterby, Sweden	65	158.92535(2)		6
Tc	Technetium	Greek technetos	43	[98]^[1]	7	5
Te	Tellurium	Greek tellus	52	127.60(3)^[2]	16	5
Th	Thorium	Thor	90	232.03806(2)^[1] ^[2]		7
Ti	Titanium	the Titans	22	47.867(1)	4	4
Tl	Thallium	Greek thallos	81	204.3833(2)	13	6
Tm	Thulium	Thule and the traditional -ium ending	69	168.93421(2)		6
U	Uranium	Uranus	92	238.02891(3)^[1] ^[2] ^[4]		7
Uub	Ununbium	Latin uni, uni, and bi	112	[285]^[1]	12	7
Uuh	Ununhexium	Latin uni, uni, and Greek hex	116	[292]^[1]	16	7
Uuo	Ununoctium	Latin uni, uni, and oct	118	[294]^[1]	18	7
Uup	Ununpentium	Latin uni, uni, and Greek pent	115	[288]^[1]	15	7
Uuq	Ununquadium	Latin uni, uni, and quadr	114	[289]^[1]	14	7
Uut	Ununtrium	Latin uni, uni, and Greek tri	113	[284]^[1]	13	7
V	Vanadium	Vanadis	23	50.9415(1)	5	4
W	Tungsten	German wolfram	74	183.84(1)	6	6
Xe	Xenon	Greek xenos	54	131.293(6)^[2] ^[4]	18	5
Y	Yttrium	Ytterby, Sweden	39	88.90585(2)	3	5
Yb	Ytterbium	Ytterby, Sweden	70	173.04(3)^[2]		6
Zn	zin	30	65.409(4)	12	4
Zr	zircon	40	91.224(2)^[2]	4	5

periodic table

Metals						Metalloids	Nonmetals
Alkali metals	Alkaline earth metals	Inner transition elements		Transition elements	Other metals		Other nonmetals	Halogens	Noble gases
		Lanthanides	Actinides

Symbols not currently used

The following is a list of names formerly used or suggested for use in naming the elements listed above. Also included in this list are placeholder names and names given by discredited claimants for discovery. Names which retain local use (as with aluminum and jod) are not included in this table.

Chemical Symbol	Name	Atomic Number	Origin of Symbol	Why Not Used
A	Argon	18	Current symbol is Ar.	^[6]
Ab	astatine.	^[7]
Am	astatine.	^[7]
An	einsteinium.	^[8]
Ao	neptunium.	^[7]
Az	nitrogen.	^[6]
Bv	protactinium.	^[6]
Bz	praseodymium.	^[8]
Cb	niobium.	^[6]
Cb	americium.	^[8]
Cp	lutetium.	^[6]
Ct	fermium.	^[8]
Ct	hafnium.	^[6]
Da	technetium.	^[8]
Db	rutherfordium. The symbol and name were used for element 105.	^[6] ^[8]
Eb	scandium closely matched the prediction.	^[8] ^[9]
El	gallium closely matched the prediction.	^[8] ^[9]
Em	radium).	^[6]
Em	technetium closely matched the prediction.	^[8] ^[9]
Es	germanium closely matched the prediction.	^[8] ^[9]
Es	plutonium.	^[7]
Fa	Francium	87	Current symbol is Fr.	^[6]
Fr	promethium.	^[7]
Gl	beryllium.	^[6]
Ha	dubnium.	^[8]
Ha	hassium.	^[8]
Il	promethium.	^[7]
Jg	hafnium.	^[7]
Jo	dubnium.	^[8]
Ku	rutherfordium.	^[8]
Lw	Lawrencium	103	Current symbol is Lr.	^[6]
M	chlorine.	^[6]
Ma	Masurium	43	Disputed claim to discovery of technetium.	^[7]
Md	berkelium. The symbol and name were later used for element 101.	^[6] ^[8]
Me	erbium.	^[6]
Ms	indium.	^[7]
Mt	protactinium.	^[8]
Mv	Mendelevium	101	Current symbol is Md.	^[6]
Ng	hafnium.	^[7]
Ni	radon.	^[6]
No	hafnium.	^[7]
Ns	dubnium.	^[8]
Ns	bohrium.	^[8]
Nt	radon.	^[8]
Ny	ytterbium.	^[6]
Od	samarium.	^[8]
Pc	darmstadtium.	^[8]
Pe	niobium.	^[6]
Po	Potassium	19	Current symbol is K.	^[6]
Rf	seaborgium. The symbol and name were instead used for element 104.	^[6] ^[8]
Sa	Samarium	62	Current symbol is Sm.	^[6]
So	Sodium	11	Current symbol is Na.	^[6]
Sp	ytterbium.	^[8]
St	Antimony	51	Current symbol is Sb.	^[6]
Tn	Tungsten	74	Current symbol is W.	^[6]
Tu	Thulium	69	Current symbol is Tm.	^[6]
Tu	Tungsten	74	Current symbol is W.	^[6]
Ty	neodymium.	^[8]
Unb	nobelium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Une	meitnerium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Unh	seaborgium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Uno	hassium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Unp	dubnium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Unq	rutherfordium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Uns	bohrium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Unt	lawrencium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Unu	mendelevium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Uun	darmstadtium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Uuu	roentgenium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.	^[9]
Vi	francium.	^[7]
Vm	francium.	^[7]
Yt	Yttrium	39	Current symbol is Y.	^[6]

Pictographic symbols

The following is a list of pictographic symbols employed to symbolize elements known since ancient times (for example to the Jöns Jakob Berzelius.

Chemical Symbol	Original Name	Modern Name	Atomic Number
	Daltonian symbol circa 1808.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Pallas	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Daltonian symbol circa 1808.	^[6]
⊛	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
♂	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Stellae Fixae	alchemical symbol.	^[6]
♀	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
©	Daltonian symbol circa 1808.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Luna	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
♁	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
☾	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
☉	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]
☼	Sol	Alchemical symbol from the 1500s	^[6]
	Sol	Alchemical symbol from 1700 through 1783.	^[6]
[1]	Pisces	alchemical symbol.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol from the 1600s.	^[6]
	Alchemical symbol from 1700 through 1783.	^[6]
	Saturnus	Alchemical symbol circa 1783.	^[6]
	Taurus	Alchemical symbol.	^[6]

^ ^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 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, three elements, Thorium, Protactinium, and Uranium, have a characteristic terrestrial isotopic composition, and thus their atomic mass given.
^ ^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 ^am The isotopic composition of this element varies in some geological specimens, and the variation may exceed the uncertainty stated in the table.
^ ^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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h The isotopic composition of the element can vary in commercial materials, which can cause the atomic weight to deviate significantly from the given value.
^ 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.
^ ^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 ^am ^an ^ao ^ap ^aq ^ar ^as ^at ^au ^av ^aw ^ax ^ay ^az Name changed due to a standardization of, modernization of, or update to older previously used symbol.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Name designated by discredited/disputed claimant.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x Name proposed prior to discovery/creation of element or prior to official re-naming of a placeholder name.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Temporary placeholder name.

Symbols for named isotopes

The following is a antihydrogen.

Chemical Symbol	Name	Atomic Number	Origin of Symbol
Ac	element 89.
AcA	Actinium A	84	From actinium.
AcB	Actinium B	82	From actinium.
AcC	Actinium C	83	From actinium.
AcC'	Actinium C'	84	From actinium.
AcC"	Actinium C"	81	From actinium.
AcK	Actinium K	87	Name given at one time to ²²³Fr, an isotope of actinium.
AcU	Actino-Uranium	92	Name given at one time to ²³⁵U, an isotope of uranium.
AcX	Actinium X	88	Name given at one time to ²²³Ra, an isotope of actinium.
An	actinium.
D	Deuterium	1	From the Greek deuteros. Name given to ²H.
Io	Ionium	90	Name given at one time to ²³⁰Th, an isotope of uranium.
MsTh₁	Mesothorium 1	88	Name given at one time to ²²⁸Ra, an isotope of radium.
MsTh₂	Mesothorium 2	89	Name given at one time to ²²⁸Ac, an isotope of actinium.
Pa	element 91.
Ra	element 88.
RaA	radium.
RaB	Radium B	82	From radium.
RaC	Radium C	83	From radium.
RaC'	Radium C'	84	From radium.
RaC"	Radium C"	81	From radium.
RaD	Radium D	82	From radium.
RaE	Radium E	83	From radium.
RaE"	Radium E"	81	From radium.
RaF	radium.
RdAc	Radioactinium	90	Name given at one time to ²²⁷Th, an isotope of thorium.
RdTh	Radiothorium	90	Name given at one time to ²²⁸Th, an isotope of thorium.
Rn	element 86 in 1923.
T	Tritium	1	From the Greek tritos. Name given to ³H.
Th	element 90.
ThA	Thorium A	84	From thorium.
ThB	Thorium B	82	From thorium.
ThC	Thorium C	83	From thorium.
ThC'	Thorium C'	84	From thorium.
ThC"	Thorium C"	81	From thorium.
ThX	Thorium X	88	Name given at one time to ²²⁴Ra, an isotope of thorium.
Tn	thorium.
UI	uranium.
UII	Uranium II	92	Name given at one time to ²³⁴U, an isotope of uranium.
UX₁	Uranium X₁	90	Name given at one time to ²³⁴Th, an isotope of uranium.
UX₂	Uranium X₂	91	Name given at one time to ²³⁴Pa, an isotope of uranium.
UY	Uranium Y	90	Name given at one time to ²³¹Th, an isotope of uranium.
UZ	Uranium Z	91	Name given at one time to ²³⁴Pa, an isotope of uranium.

Other symbols that look like element symbols

Ab: albite
Ac: actinium: see above)
Ar: aryl - (also used for the element argon: see above)
Bn: benzyl
Bu: butyl
Bz: praseodymium).
Di: neodymium.
Dp: praseodymium.
Et: ethyl
M: metal - any metal atom
Me: methyl
Mu: muonium
Ph: phenyl
Pp: samarium.
Pr: praseodymium: see above)
Ps: positronium
R: radical

Notes

^ ^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 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, three elements, Thorium, Protactinium, and Uranium, have a characteristic terrestrial isotopic composition, and thus their atomic mass given.
^ ^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 ^am The isotopic composition of this element varies in some geological specimens, and the variation may exceed the uncertainty stated in the table.
^ ^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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h The isotopic composition of the element can vary in commercial materials, which can cause the atomic weight to deviate significantly from the given value.
^ 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.
^ ^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 ^am ^an ^ao ^ap ^aq ^ar ^as ^at ^au ^av ^aw ^ax ^ay ^az Name changed due to a standardization of, modernization of, or update to older previously used symbol.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m Name designated by discredited/disputed claimant.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x Name proposed prior to discovery/creation of element or prior to official re-naming of a placeholder name.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o Temporary placeholder name.

References

Element name etymologies. Retrieved July 15, 2005.
Atomic Weights of the Elements 2001, Pure Appl. Chem. 75(8), 1107-1122, 2003. Retrieved June 30, 2005. Atomic weights of elements with atomic numbers from 1-109 taken from this source.
IUPAC Standard Atomic Weights Revised (2005).
WebElements Periodic Table. Retrieved June 30, 2005. Atomic weights of elements with atomic numbers 110-116 taken from this source.
Lapp, Ralph E. Matter. Life Science Library. New York: Time Incorporated. 1963.
Leighton, Robert B. Principles of Modern Physics. New York: McGraw-Hill. 1959.

Chemical elements

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List_of_elements_by_symbol". A list of authors is available in Wikipedia.