Question

why is the symbol and for nitrogen but K for Potassium and Si for Silicon ?​

Answer 1

Answer:

The chemical symbol K comes from kalium, the Mediaeval Latin for potash, which may have derived from the arabic word qali, meaning alkali.

Explanation:

As for Silicon and Sulphur, silicon was discovered, so as to speak, after sulphur, and thus got the symbol S and the silicon, when discovered was given the symbol Si.

Answer 2

Answer:

the chemical symbol k come from kalium the mediaeval Latin for potash, which may have derived from the Arabic word qali, meaning alkali.