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Question
Describe the different ways in which we can write the symbols of elements. Give appropriate examples.
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Solution
The following rules are followed while assigning symbol to an elements:
- Chemical symbols usually consist of one or two letters.
- The symbols of most elements correspond to the first letter (which is capitalized) of their English name. For example, the symbol for oxygen is “O” and that for hydrogen is “H”.
- When there is more than one element that begins with the same letter, their symbols take two letters.
- The first letter is capitalised while the second letter has a lower case.
- For example, the names of both hydrogen and helium begin with H. So, hydrogen is represented by the symbol H and Helium by He.
| Element | Symbol |
| Hydrogen | H |
| Fluorine | F |
| Aluminimum | Al |
| Argon | Ar |
| Phosphorus | P |
| Sulphur | S |
| Chromium | CrCo |
| Cobalt |
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