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Chemical Symbols

Part of the Atomic Structure section of Coddy's Chemistry journey. Lesson 3 of 45.

Every element has a symbol of one or two letters: the first a capital, the second small. C is carbon, Ca is calcium, Cl is chlorine.

Some symbols come from Latin names: Na for sodium (natrium), Fe for iron (ferrum), K for potassium (kalium), Au for gold (aurum).

Capitals matter: Co is cobalt, one element, while CO is carbon monoxide, carbon and oxygen joined.

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Challenge

Six cards have fallen out of the periodic table: H, C, O, Na, Cl and Fe. Put each one back in its box.

Try it yourself

Periodic tablePut each card in its cell
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This lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.

All lessons in Atomic Structure

1Matter and Atoms

What Everything Is Made OfElements, Compounds, MixturesChemical SymbolsCounting Atoms in a FormulaRecap - Molecule Kit

4Electron Arrangement

Shells and the First 20Valence ElectronsIonization Energy as EvidenceLight from AtomsSubshells: s, p, dAufbau, Hund and PauliWriting ConfigurationsIons and the ExceptionsRecap - Configuration Race

7Practice Problems

Recap - Potassium OxideRecap - Helium from RocksRecap - Uranium to Lead

2Models of the Atom

Dalton and ThomsonRutherford's Gold FoilThe Nuclear AtomBohr's ShellsRecap - From Ball to Nucleus

5The Periodic Table

Mendeleev's PuzzleGroups and PeriodsBlocks: s, p, d, fMetals, Non-metals, MetalloidsAlkali MetalsHalogensNoble GasesRecap - Build the Table

3Inside the Atom

Protons Decide the ElementElectrons and ChargeNeutrons and Mass NumberNuclide NotationIonsIsotopesRadioactive DecayRelative Atomic MassRecap - Mystery Particles

6Periodic Trends

Atomic RadiusIonic RadiusIonization Energy TrendElectronegativityExplaining TrendsRecap - Mystery Element