Why is the symbol for sodium Na?

Na comes from natrium, the Latin name for sodium. Several symbols come from Latin names, such as K for kalium (potassium), Fe for ferrum (iron) and Au for aurum (gold).

How many elements are in the periodic table?

118 elements have been discovered and officially named, from hydrogen (1) to oganesson (118).

Which metal is liquid at room temperature?

Mercury (Hg) is the only metal that is liquid at normal room temperature.

Periodic Table Quiz ⚗️

Element symbols and chemistry basics: 10 random questions, with the "why" explained after each one.

The symbols that don't match the English name

Most symbols are just the first letter or two of the element's name (H for hydrogen, Ca for calcium). The tricky ones come from Latin (and one from German). These appear in almost every chemistry quiz and school exam:

Element	Symbol	Comes from
Sodium	Na	Natrium (Latin)
Potassium	K	Kalium (Latin)
Iron	Fe	Ferrum (Latin)
Copper	Cu	Cuprum (Latin)
Silver	Ag	Argentum (Latin)
Gold	Au	Aurum (Latin)
Tin	Sn	Stannum (Latin)
Lead	Pb	Plumbum (Latin)
Mercury	Hg	Hydrargyrum (Latinised Greek, "liquid silver")
Antimony	Sb	Stibium (Latin)
Tungsten	W	Wolfram (German)

Periodic table basics in one minute

118 elements are officially named, from hydrogen (atomic number 1) to oganesson (118).

The atomic number is the number of protons. It's what makes an element that element.

Rows are called periods. Columns are called groups, and elements in the same group behave similarly.

Group 18, on the far right, holds the noble gases (helium, neon, argon…), which rarely react.

Group 1 (except hydrogen) holds the alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, which react strongly with water.

Dmitri Mendeleev published an early version of the periodic table in 1869, leaving gaps for elements that hadn't been discovered yet.

Memory tips

Ag = argentum: Argentina's name comes from the Latin for silver.

Pb = plumbum: a "plumber" originally worked with lead pipes.

Au = aurum: think "Au! That gold ring is expensive."

Fe = ferrum: "ferrous" metals are ones that contain iron.