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Chapter 3: Problem 84

Research several elements whose symbols are inconsistent with their English names. Some examples include silver, Ag; gold, Au; and mercury, Hg. Compare the origin of these names with the origin of the symbols.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The elements Silver, Gold and Mercury have symbols Ag, Au and Hg respectively because their symbols derive from Latin, not English - Argentum for Silver, Aurum for Gold, and Hydrargyrum for Mercury.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding Element Symbolization

Note that not all elements in the periodic table have symbols that align with their English names. This discrepancy arises due to the fact that many elements were discovered and named before the modern naming conventions were established, leading to a mismatch between the name of the element and its symbol. The origins of such symbols often lie in other languages, typically Latin or Greek. For example, the symbol for silver (Ag) comes from the Latin word 'argentum' and gold (Au) from 'aurum'.
02

Researching Additional Elements

Find additional elements that exhibit a mismatch between their English names and their symbols. For instance, potassium (K) derives its symbol from the Latin word 'kalium', and Sodium (Na) from 'natrium'. Make sure to include the origin of both the names and the symbols for each element.
03

Comparing the Origins

Compare the origins of the names and symbols of the different elements. For example, observe the influence of Greek and Latin on the naming of the elements and note the rationale behind the choice of symbols based on these languages.

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