Chemical symbol


Chemical symbols are abbreviations used in chemistry for chemical elements, functional groups and chemical compounds. Element symbols for chemical elements normally consist of one or two letters from the Latin alphabet and are written with the first letter capitalised.
Earlier symbols for chemical elements stem from classical Latin and Greek vocabulary. For some elements, this is because the material was known in ancient times, while for others, the name is a more recent invention. For example, Pb is the symbol for lead ; Hg is the symbol for mercury ; and He is the symbol for helium because helium was not known in ancient Roman times. Some symbols come from other sources, like W for tungsten which was not known in Roman times.
A 3-letter temporary symbol may be assigned to a newly synthesized element. For example, "Uno" was the temporary symbol for hassium which had the temporary name of unniloctium, based on its atomic number being 8 greater than 100. There are also some historical symbols that are no longer officially used.
In addition to the letters for the element itself, additional details may be added to the symbol as superscripts or subscripts a particular isotope, ionization, or oxidation state, or other atomic detail. A few isotopes have their own specific symbols rather than just an isotopic detail added to their element symbol.
Attached subscripts or superscripts specifying a nuclide or molecule have the following meanings and positions:
In Chinese, each chemical element has a dedicated character, usually created for the purpose. However, Latin symbols are also used, especially in formulas.
Many functional groups also have their own chemical symbol, e.g. Ph for the phenyl group, and Me for the methyl group.
, elements being denoted by their symbols
A list of current, dated, as well as proposed and historical signs and symbols is included here with its signification. Also given is each element's atomic number, atomic weight, or the atomic mass of the most stable isotope, group and period numbers on the periodic table, and etymology of the symbol.
Hazard pictographs are another type of symbols used in chemistry.

Symbols for chemical elements

Antimatter atoms are denoted by a bar above the symbol for their matter counterpart, so e.g. H is the symbol for antihydrogen.

Symbols and names not currently used

The following is a list of symbols and names formerly used or suggested for elements, including symbols for placeholder names and names given by discredited claimants for discovery.
Chemical symbolNameAtomic numberOrigin of symbolWhy not usedRefs
AArgon18A used for Argon until 1957. Current symbol is Ar.
AbAlabamine85Discredited claim to discovery of astatine.
AdAldebaranium70Former name for ytterbium.
AhAnglohelvetium85Discredited claim to discovery of astatine.
AkAlkalinium87Discredited claim to discovery of francium.
AmAlabamine85Discredited claim to discovery of astatine. The symbol is now used for americium.
AnAthenium99Proposed name for einsteinium.
AoAusonium93Discredited claim to discovery of neptunium.
AzAzote7Former name for nitrogen.
BoBoron5Current symbol is B.
BvBrevium91Former name for protactinium.
BzBerzelium90Baskerville wrongly believed berzelium to be a new element. Was actually thorium.
CbColumbium41Former name for niobium.
ChChromium24Current symbol is Cr.
ClColumbium41Former name for niobium. The symbol is now used for chlorine.
CmCatium87Proposed name for francium. The symbol is now used for curium.
CnCarolinium90Baskerville wrongly believed carolinium to be a new element. Was actually thorium. The symbol is now used for copernicium.
CpCassiopeium71Former name for lutetium.
CpCopernicium112Current symbol is Cn.
CtCeltium72Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium.
CtCenturium100Proposed name for fermium.
DDidymium59/60Mixture of the elements praseodymium and neodymium. Mosander wrongly believed didymium to be an element.
DaDavyum43Discredited claim to discovery of technetium.
DbDubnium104Proposed name for rutherfordium. The symbol and name were instead used for element 105.
DiDidymium59/60Mixture of the elements praseodymium and neodymium. Mosander wrongly believed didymium to be an element.
DoDor85Discredited claim to discovery of astatine.
DsDysprosium66Current symbol is Dy. The symbol is now used for darmstadtium.
EEinsteinium99Current symbol is Es.
EErbium68Current symbol is Er.
EaEkaaluminium31Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, gallium closely matched the prediction.
EbEkaboron21Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, scandium closely matched the prediction.
ElEkaaluminium31Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, gallium closely matched the prediction.
EmEkamanganese43Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, technetium closely matched the prediction.
EmEmanation86Also called "radium emanation", the name was originally given by Friedrich Ernst Dorn in 1900. In 1923, this element officially became radon.
EmEmanium89Alternate name formerly proposed for actinium.
EsEkasilicon32Name given by Mendeleev to an as of then undiscovered element. When discovered, germanium closely matched the prediction. The symbol is now used for einsteinium.
EsEsperium94Discredited claim to discovery of plutonium. The symbol is now used for einsteinium.
FaFrancium87Current symbol is Fr.
FlFlorentium61Discredited claim to discovery of promethium. The symbol is now used for flerovium.
FlFluorine9Current symbol is F. The symbol is now used for flerovium.
FrFlorentium61Discredited claim to discovery of promethium. The symbol is now used for francium.
GGlucinium4Former name for beryllium.
GlGlucinium4Former name for beryllium.
HaHahnium105Proposed name for dubnium.
HnHahnium108Proposed name for hassium.
HvHelvetium85Discredited claim to discovery of astatine.
HyMercury80Hy from the Greek hydrargyrum for "liquid silver". Current symbol is Hg.
IIridium77Current symbol is Ir. The symbol is now used for iodine.
IlIllinium61Discredited claim to discovery of promethium.
JJodium53Former name for iodine.
JgJargonium72Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium.
JlJoliotium105Proposed name for dubnium.
KaPotassium19Current symbol is K.
KuKurchatovium104Proposed name for rutherfordium.
LLithium3Current symbol is Li.
LwLawrencium103Current symbol is Lr.
MMuriaticum17Former name for chlorine.
MaManganese25Current symbol is Mn.
MaMasurium43Disputed claim to discovery of technetium.
MdMendelevium97Proposed name for berkelium. The symbol and name were later used for element 101.
MlMoldavium87Discredited claim to discovery of francium.
MsMagnesium12Current symbol is Mg.
MsMasurium43Disputed claim to discovery of technetium.
MvMendelevium101Current symbol is Md.
NgNorwegium72Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium.
NoNorium72Discredited claim to discovery of hafnium. The symbol is now used for nobelium.
NpNipponium43Discredited claim to discovery of technetium. The symbol is now used for neptunium.
NsNielsbohrium105Proposed name for dubnium.
NsNielsbohrium107Proposed name for bohrium.
NtNiton86Former name for radon.
NyNeoytterbium70Former name for ytterbium.
PLead82Current symbol is Pb. The symbol is now used for phosphorus.
PaPalladium46Current symbol is Pd. The symbol is now used for protactinium.
PePelopium41Former name for niobium.
PlPalladium46Current symbol is Pd.
PoPotassium19Current symbol is K. The symbol is now used for polonium.
RRhodium45Current symbol is Rh.
RdRadium88Current symbol is Ra.
RfRutherfordium106Proposed name for seaborgium. The symbol and name were instead used for element 104.
RoRhodium45Current symbol is Rh.
SaSamarium62Current symbol is Sm.
SoSodium11Current symbol is Na.
StAntimony51Current symbol is Sb.
StTin50Current symbol is Sn.
TnTungsten74Current symbol is W.
TrTerbium65Current symbol is Tb.
TuThulium69Current symbol is Tm.
TuTungsten74Current symbol is W.
UnbUnnilbium102Temporary name given to nobelium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UneUnnilennium109Temporary name given to meitnerium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UnhUnnilhexium106Temporary name given to seaborgium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UnoUnniloctium108Temporary name given to hassium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UnpUnnilpentium105Temporary name given to dubnium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UnqUnnilquadium104Temporary name given to rutherfordium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UnsUnnilseptium107Temporary name given to bohrium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UntUnniltrium103Temporary name given to lawrencium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UnuUnnilunium101Temporary name given to mendelevium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UubUnunbium112Temporary name given to copernicium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UuhUnunhexium116Temporary name given to livermorium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UunUnunnilium110Temporary name given to darmstadtium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UuoUnunoctium118Temporary name given to oganesson until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UupUnunpentium115Temporary name given to moscovium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UuqUnunquadium114Temporary name given to flerovium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UusUnunseptium117Temporary name given to tennessine until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UutUnuntrium113Temporary name given to nihonium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UuuUnununium111Temporary name given to roentgenium until it was permanently named by IUPAC.
UrUranium92Current symbol is U.
ViVirginium87Discredited claim to discovery of francium.
VmVirginium87Discredited claim to discovery of francium.
VaVanadium23Current symbol is V.
WoTungsten74Current symbol is W.
XXenon54Current symbol is Xe. The symbol is now used for halogens.
YtYttrium39Current symbol is Y.

Pictographic symbols

The following is a list of pictographic symbols employed to symbolize elements known since ancient times. Not included in this list are symbolic representations of substances previously called elements which are known today to be multi-atomic. Also not included are symbolic representations currently used for elements in other languages such as the Chinese characters for elements. Modern alphabetic notation was introduced in 1814 by Jöns Jakob Berzelius.
Chemical symbolOriginal nameModern nameAtomic numberOrigin of symbol
HydrogenHydrogen1Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
CarbonCarbon6Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
AzoteNitrogen7Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
OxygenOxygen8Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
SodaSodium11Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
MagnesiumMagnesium12Alchemical symbol. Also adopted as the symbol for Magnesium by Dalton in 1808.
?SiliconSilicon14Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
SulfurSulfur16Alchemical symbol.
PallasSulfur16Alchemical symbol.
?SulfurSulfur16Alchemical symbol.
SulfurSulfur16Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
CalciumCalcium20Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
MarsIron26Alchemical symbol.
IronIron26Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
NickelNickel28Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
Stellae FixaeCopper29Pre–16th-century alchemical symbol.
VenusCopper29Alchemical symbol.
CopperCopper29Alchemical symbol.
CopperCopper29Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
ZincZinc30Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
ArsenicArsenic33Alchemical symbol.
?ArsenicArsenic33Alchemical symbol.
YttriumYttrium39Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
LunaSilver47Alchemical symbol.
?SilverSilver47Alchemical symbol.
SilverSilver47Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
IupiterTin50Alchemical symbol.
TinTin50Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
AntimonyAntimony51Alchemical symbol.
☉☾PlatinumPlatinum78Alchemical symbol.
UranusPlatinum78Alchemical symbol.
PlatinumPlatinum78Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
SolGold79Alchemical symbol from the 16th century.
SolGold79Alchemical symbol from 1700 through 1783.
?GoldGold79Alchemical symbol.
GoldGold79Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
♓︎PiscesMercury80Pre–16th-century alchemical symbol.
NeptunusMercury80Alchemical symbol from the 17th century.
MercuriusMercury80Alchemical symbol from 1700 through 1783.
SaturnusLead82Alchemical symbol circa 1783.
LeadLead82Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
♉︎TaurusBismuth83Alchemical symbol.
BismuthBismuth83Daltonian symbol circa 1808.
UraniumUranium92Daltonian symbol circa 1808.

Symbols for named isotopes

The following is a list of isotopes of elements given in the previous tables which have been designated unique symbols. By this it is meant that a comprehensive list of current systematic symbols are not included in the list and can instead be found in the chart. The symbols for the named isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium, and tritium are still in use today, as is thoron for radon-220. Heavy water and other deuterated solvents are commonly used in chemistry, and it is convenient to use a single character rather than a symbol with a subscript in these cases. The practice also continues with tritium compounds. When the name of the solvent is given, a lowercase d is sometimes used. For example, d6-benzene and C6D6 can be used instead of C6H6.
The symbols for isotopes of elements other than hydrogen and radon are no longer in use within the scientific community. Many of these symbols were designated during the early years of radiochemistry, and several isotopes bear placeholder names using the early naming system devised by Ernest Rutherford.
Chemical symbolNameAtomic numberOrigin of symbol
AcActinium89From the Greek aktinos. Name restricted at one time to 227Ac, an isotope of actinium. This named isotope later became the official name for element 89.
AcAActinium A84From actinium and A. Placeholder name given at one time to 215Po, an isotope of polonium identified in the decay chain of actinium.
AcBActinium B82From actinium and B. Placeholder name given at one time to 211Pb, an isotope of lead identified in the decay chain of actinium.
AcCActinium C83From actinium and C. Placeholder name given at one time to 211Bi, an isotope of bismuth identified in the decay chain of actinium.
AcC'Actinium C'84From actinium and C'. Placeholder name given at one time to 211Po, an isotope of polonium identified in the decay chain of actinium.
AcC"Actinium C"81From actinium and C". Placeholder name given at one time to 207Tl, an isotope of thallium identified in the decay chain of actinium.
AcKActinium K87Name given at one time to 223Fr, an isotope of francium identified in the decay chain of actinium.
AcUActino-uranium92Name given at one time to 235U, an isotope of uranium.
AcXActinium X88Name given at one time to 223Ra, an isotope of radium identified in the decay chain of actinium.
AnActinon86From actinium and emanation. Name given at one time to 219Rn, an isotope of radon identified in the decay chain of actinium.
DDeuterium1From the Greek deuteros. Name given to 2H.
IoIonium90Name given to 230Th, an isotope of thorium identified in the decay chain of uranium.
MsTh1Mesothorium 188Name given at one time to 228Ra, an isotope of radium.
MsTh2Mesothorium 289Name given at one time to 228Ac, an isotope of actinium.
PaProtactinium91From the Greek protos and actinium. Name restricted at one time to 231Pa, an isotope of protactinium. This named isotope later became the official name for element 91.
RaRadium88From the Latin radius. Name restricted at one time to 226Ra, an isotope of radium. This named isotope later became the official name for element 88.
RaARadium A84From radium and A. Placeholder name given at one time to 218Po, an isotope of polonium identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaBRadium B82From radium and B. Placeholder name given at one time to 214Pb, an isotope of lead identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaCRadium C83From radium and C. Placeholder name given at one time to 214Bi, an isotope of bismuth identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaC'Radium C'84From radium and C'. Placeholder name given at one time to 214Po, an isotope of polonium identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaC"Radium C"81From radium and C". Placeholder name given at one time to 210Tl, an isotope of thallium identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaDRadium D82From radium and D. Placeholder name given at one time to 210Pb, an isotope of lead identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaERadium E83From radium and E. Placeholder name given at one time to 210Bi, an isotope of bismuth identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaE"Radium E"81From radium and E". Placeholder name given at one time to 206Tl, an isotope of thallium identified in the decay chain of radium.
RaFRadium F84From radium and F. Placeholder name given at one time to 210Po, an isotope of polonium identified in the decay chain of radium.
RdAcRadioactinium90Name given at one time to 227Th, an isotope of thorium.
RdThRadiothorium90Name given at one time to 228Th, an isotope of thorium.
RnRadon86From radium and emanation. Name restricted at one time to 222Rn, an isotope of radon identified in the decay chain of radium. This named isotope later became the official name for element 86 in 1923.
TTritium1From the Greek tritos. Name given to 3H.
ThThorium90After Thor. Name restricted at one time to 232Th, an isotope of thorium. This named isotope later became the official name for element 90.
ThAThorium A84From thorium and A. Placeholder name given at one time to 216Po, an isotope of polonium identified in the decay chain of thorium.
ThBThorium B82From thorium and B. Placeholder name given at one time to 212Pb, an isotope of lead identified in the decay chain of thorium.
ThCThorium C83From thorium and C. Placeholder name given at one time to 212Bi, an isotope of bismuth identified in the decay chain of thorium.
ThC'Thorium C'84From thorium and C'. Placeholder name given at one time to 212Po, an isotope of polonium identified in the decay chain of thorium.
ThC"Thorium C"81From thorium and C". Placeholder name given at one time to 208Tl, an isotope of thallium identified in the decay chain of thorium.
ThXThorium X88Name given at one time to 224Ra, an isotope of radium identified in the decay chain of thorium.
TnThoron86From thorium and emanation. Name given at one time to 220Rn, an isotope of radon identified in the decay chain of thorium.
UIUranium I92Name given at one time to 238U, an isotope of uranium.
UIIUranium II92Name given at one time to 234U, an isotope of uranium.
UX1Uranium X190Name given at one time to 234Th, an isotope of thorium identified in the decay chain of uranium.
UX2Uranium X291Name given at one time to 234mPa, an isotope of protactinium identified in the decay chain of uranium.
UYUranium Y90Name given at one time to 231Th, an isotope of thorium identified in the decay chain of uranium.
UZUranium Z91Name given at one time to 234Pa, an isotope of protactinium identified in the decay chain of uranium.

Other symbols

General:
From organic chemistry:
Exotic atoms: