Symbols Based On Latin Names

Chemical symbols are a fascinating part of Chemistry. Although there are different ways and means to pronounce or write certain terminologies in different languages, it doesn’t change for chemical symbols. The language used in creating the symbols is followed throughout the globe. This makes it immensely easy to get research and development done without having to change the language of the elements many times. The origin story of chemical symbols is interesting too. Some elements still follow their Latin names. This can give rise to confusion as most of the names take the abbreviation of their English names. So let’s do away with this confusion and understand more about symbols based on Latin names.

Chemical Symbols: Basics 

Before we proceed further on the module, let’s stop and discuss the basics of chemical symbols. A chemical symbol is a simple, straightforward, and abbreviated representation of the chemical element. It abbreviates the name of the chemical element so that it follows a standardised form of names that is set by the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry or IUPAC. 

Most of the names used for the formation of the chemical symbols derive their origin from a lot of years ago. 

Chemical Compound or Formula

A chemical compound or formula is composed of two or more than two elements making it more complex and tedious. Imagine the pain it would take for the writer as well as the reader if one was to write the full names of all the elements while representing a chemical reaction or the formation of a chemical compound.

For example, H2O consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. If the full names were to be written for this compound, the whole scenario would be completely different. This is why chemical symbols were created.

History of Chemical Symbols 

In older times, alchemists and apothecaries struggled with coming up with a suitable and unified name for the chemical elements that they used in their chemical reactions. For years, the Latin and Greek alchemists designed a series of symbols, illustrations, or drawings that would represent the elements for their reactions in text. However, these illustrations required a lot of time, energy, and precision to yield the desired results. Not everyone was capable of doing this. On the downside, the illustrations varied from one alchemist to another, thus creating a lot of chaos and confusion. 

Latin alchemists made use of their names to identify chemical elements. These ancient names got carried forward into modern times as well. However, not all elements still have their Latin names. Only some elements with symbols based on Latin names still exist. 

After the numerous tries of these alchemists, a famous English chemist named John Dalton came up with the brilliant idea of representing various chemical elements with the help of symbols. When he represented any chemical compound or formula, he would write the symbols of the elements together to represent their union. 

Another well-known Swedish chemist, Jöns Jacob Berzelius, went on to bring forth the use of abbreviations from the chemical names that are being followed till now. That’s how chemical symbols came into existence. 

Rules of Writing Chemical Symbols 

Several rules have been set up by the IUPAC so that there are no flaws when curating the chemical symbols of various elements. They are: 

• The first alphabet of the chemical symbol should always be in capital letters. 
• The second alphabet of the chemical symbol should always be in lowercase. 
• Both the alphabets should not be in uppercase or lowercase at once. 
• There should not be more than two letters in the chemical symbol. 

Symbols Based on Latin Names 

Due to a practice that has been followed from ancient times, many elements of the periodic table still retain their Latin names. Let’s discuss some of them here. 

• Sodium – Natrium (Na) 

Sodium derives its name from the Latin word, Natrium. Originally, it was said to be a Greek word named Nitron which refers to Sodium Bicarbonate. Many modernists still call it Natrium and not Sodium.

• Iron – Ferrum (Fe) 

You’ll be astonished to know that iron has more than 200 different names in different languages across the globe. However, the Latin name, Ferrum, which means iron or sword, gave it its symbol.

• Potassium – Kalium (K) 

The Latin name of Potassium is Kalium. It derives its origin from Arabic. It means calcined ashes. Many people still refer to Potassium as Kalium. 

• Copper – Cuprum (Cu) 

The origin of Copper’s Latin name is very interesting. It is named after an island that had an abundance of copper reservoirs. Earlier its Latin name was Cyprium which means Kyros. Kyros is the Greek name for Cyprus. Cyprus is a Greek island that was known for its copper reserves.

• Gold – Aurum (Au) 

Gold derives its name from the word aurora. Aurum, the Latin word for Gold, directly corresponds to yellow.

• Silver – Argentum (Ag) 

The Latin name of Silver, Argentum, derives its origin from the Indo-European language. It refers to the lustrous nature of the metal. The country Argentina is named after Silver’s Latin name.

• Lead – Plumbum (Pb)

Plumbum derives its origin from the Ancient Greek language. It is also the main source for English words like plumbing and plumber. 

First 30 Elements with Their Symbols and Latin Names 

Out of the first 30 elements of the periodic table, only 11 elements have Latin symbols. The first 30 elements with their symbols and Latin names are as follows:

Conclusion 

Through this article, we have explored the various facets of chemical symbols and how they function in the world of Chemistry. Many chemical symbols still have their modern names rooted in the Latin language. This is because many alchemists of Greek and Latin origin had made use of these names when they conducted the experiments for themselves. This can make the understanding of these names a bit unclear and difficult, as the other names are in English. However, all these elements have an interesting origin story of their own. We’ve discussed most of them with you for a thorough and complete understanding of the same.