# Elements and their symbols

> Read Sc, Ti, V ... Zn like a chemist


## Objectives

- Define an element as a pure substance made of one kind of atom.
- Write symbols correctly: a capital letter, or a capital letter + a small letter.
- Tell an element symbol ($\ce{Co}$) from a compound formula ($\ce{CO}$).

## 1. Elements and their symbols: from zero




## 2. One letter, two substances

Predict: what is $\ce{CO}$?

- A new element called CO
- Cobalt, written in capitals
- Carbon (C) joined to oxygen (O) ✓

$\ce{CO}$ is carbon (C) joined to oxygen (O). Each capital letter starts a new symbol; in cobalt, $\ce{Co}$, the second letter is small.

[ar-EG] الـ $\ce{CO}$ هو carbon (C) متحد مع oxygen (O). كل حرف كبير بيبدأ symbol جديد؛ وفي الـ cobalt، $\ce{Co}$، الحرف التاني صغير.
## 3. Elements and symbols

Element A pure substance made of only one kind of atom. It cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical methods. One capital letter: C (carbon), V (vanadium). A capital + a small letter: Co (cobalt), Ti (titanium). Some come from Latin: Fe (ferrum, iron), Cu (cuprum, copper). Reading symbols $\ce{CO}$ is cobalt.


## 4. The ten elements of Ch.1

Ch.1 is about these ten elements. Tap them in the table, then match the pairs below. Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn (Ch.1 p.5) Match each symbol to its element.


## 5. Element or compound?

How many different elements are in $\ce{KMnO4}$ (potassium permanganate, Ch.1 p.6)?

- 6
- 3 ✓
- 4

$\ce{KMnO4}$ contains 3 different elements: K, Mn and O. Mn is one symbol (capital M, small n), and the 4 counts oxygen atoms, not elements.

[ar-EG] الـ $\ce{KMnO4}$ فيه 3 elements مختلفة: K و Mn و O. الـ Mn ده symbol واحد (M كبيرة و n صغيرة)، والـ 4 ده عدد ذرات الـ oxygen، مش عدد الـ elements.
## 6. Summary

An element is a pure substance made of one kind of atom. A symbol is one capital letter, or a capital letter + a small letter. Each capital letter starts a new symbol: $\ce{Co}$ is cobalt, $\ce{CO}$ is carbon + oxygen. Learn these ten The first transition series: Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn. Write each symbol with the right capital and small letter. Can you explain why $\ce{O2}$ is an element but $\ce{CO}$ is not? $\ce{O2}$ has one kind of atom, oxygen, so it is an element. $\ce{CO}$ has two capitals, C and O: two kinds of atom, carbon and oxygen, so it is a compound, not an element.



Chapter: Transition Elements (https://yaani.ai/en/learn/chemistry/chem-s3-en.ch1)
Source: https://yaani.ai/en/lesson/chem-s3-en.lesson-chem.elements-symbols