Question

Why are the chemical symbols of some of the elements are different from the chemical name of those
elements?​

Answer 1

There are eleven elements represented in the periodic table by letters not in line with their names:

Sodium (Na – Natrium)

Potassium (K – Kalium)

Iron (Fe – Ferrum)

Copper (Cu – Cuprum)

Silver (Ag – Argentum)

Tin (Sn – Stannum)

Antimony (Sb – Stibium)

Tungsten (W – Wolfram)

Gold (Au – Aurum)

Mercury (Hg – Hydrargyrum)

Lead (Pb – Plumbum)

Nearly all of these elements were known in ancient times and therefore carry over their Latin names. Some of the names also led to other words that are common in the English language.