Question

Why is the symbol s for Sulphur but na for Sodium and si for Silicon?

Answer 1

Hii..

S is not used for sodium as the latin name of sodium is Natrium so its initials Na are used to symbolise sodium.
Latin name of silicon is silicis so its symbol is Si like ways ..
Sulphur has latin name sulvere so S is used to write sulhphur..

hope this helps!

Answer 2

Heya friend,

Here's your answer,



An awesome question. This question causes confusion to several students who are beginners in Chemistry.


The basic reason about why do we use symbol "S " to denote Sulphur, while we use "Na" to denote Sodium is that one single symbol can not be used to denote two elements. And since, the symbol "S" had already been used to denote Sulphur, we use, Na, the Latin name of Sodium , that is , Natrium.

Similarly, symbol Si is used to denote Silicon, and we have Silver beginning with Si too. But since, we can not keep the symbols of two elements as one, we use the Latin name of Silver, that is Argentum and hence the symbol Ag. 

Thanks!

Hope this helps!!!