Which statement accurately describes the chemical symbol of an element? The chemical symbol is always a single letter. The chemical symbol always starts with the same letter as the name of the element. The chemical symbol always begins with a capital letter. The chemical symbol can be shared by more than one element.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: The chemical symbol always begins with a capital letter.
Explanation
A chemical symbol is a one- or two-letter abbreviation used to represent a chemical element. The correct format is that the first letter is always capitalized, and if there is a second letter, it is always lowercase. This standardization helps avoid confusion between different elements.
For example:
- Hydrogen is represented by H
- Helium is represented by He
- Carbon is represented by C
- Calcium is represented by Ca
This rule means that the statement “The chemical symbol always begins with a capital letter” is accurate.
Now, let’s evaluate the incorrect statements:
- “The chemical symbol is always a single letter.”
This is incorrect. While some elements like O (oxygen) and N (nitrogen) have one-letter symbols, many elements, such as Na (sodium) and Fe (iron), use two letters. - “The chemical symbol always starts with the same letter as the name of the element.”
This is also incorrect. The symbol does not always match the English name. For example:- Sodium has the symbol Na (from Latin Natrium)
- Potassium is K (from Kalium)
- Iron is Fe (from Ferrum)
- “The chemical symbol can be shared by more than one element.”
This is false. Each element has a unique chemical symbol. For instance, Fe always refers to iron and never to another element. Sharing symbols would lead to ambiguity in scientific communication.
In conclusion, the rule that the chemical symbol always begins with a capital letter is the only one that holds universally true, ensuring clarity in the periodic table and in chemical notation.
