Look at the Periodic Table

A, B, C, D, E, F .......... we all know the alphabet don't we?! Well, the periodic table is a bit like the alphabet. How's that you say? Let's have a look together. 

The periodic table is basically a big list of all the elements - all 118 of them to be precise. Rather than writing the full name of each element in the table, scientists have come up with symbols for each one. An element's symbol can be a single capital letter or a capital letter followed by a lower case letter. It's probably easier if we just show you...

Some of the elements have a symbol that is very much like its name:

C = carbon

He = helium

Mg = Magnesium

But others have what seems like rather bizarre symbols! But there is logic to it, really! The names of some elements have come from Latin, for example the Latin name for gold is aurum. So the symbol for gold is Au. See it does make sense! There a few more like that too.....

Na = sodium

Ag = silver

Cu = copper

It's just important to remember that the first letter of an element's symbol must be a capital letter. If the symbol has two letters, then the second one will be lower case.

And that's it! Come on let's give some questions a try.....

Having a printed copy of the periodic table would make these questions even easier to do - just a thought!