118 Elements and Their Symbols and Atomic Numbers

118 Elements and Their Symbols and Atomic Numbers

Sep 26, 2022, 16:45 IST

A Periodic Table of Elements is widely used in chemistry to look up chemical elements because they are arranged in a way that shows periodic trends in the chemical properties of the elements. However, the periodic table generally only shows the element's symbol, not its full name.

Most of the symbols are the same as the element name, but some element symbols have Latin roots. An example is a silver, denoted Ag from the Latin "Argentum." Another example would be the symbol "Fe," which denotes iron and can be traced back to the Latin word for iron, "Ferrum." It can be difficult for students in chemistry to learn all the names of the elements in all the periodic tables because these symbols don't always correspond to the English names of the elements. Therefore, below is a list of 118 elements and their symbols and atomic numbers:

Characteristics of the Periodic Table

• The elements are arranged in the increasing order of atomic number.
• Periodic table elements are identified by a unique symbol, not a full name, as some element names can be long and complex.
• Elements are arranged vertically and horizontally. Elements arranged vertically in columns are called "groups," and elements arranged horizontally in rows are called "periods."
• Other elements are grouped according to periodic trends and properties.

Valency of an Element

To achieve the most stable configuration possible, i.e., noble gas, the atom of an element tries to gain or lose electrons. An ability of an atom to gain or lose electrons to achieve a stable or inert gas configuration is called the valence of an element. A number of electrons in the outermost shell is called the valence electrons, and the outermost shell is called the valence shell. The valence of an element is resolved by the no of electrons in the valence shell. It is essential to know the atomic number and electron configuration of an element to find its valency.

Atomic Number

The concept of atomic number and valence can only be understood when you know exactly what the elements are made of. The element is made up of only one type of atom. An atom is the smallest indivisible unit of matter. It consists of electrons, protons, and neutrons. The center of an atom is also called the nucleus, which is positively charged and consists of protons and neutrons. Protons are positively charged. Neutrons are neutral, so they have no charge. The nucleus is surrounded by charged electrons which is negative.

The sum of protons and neutrons gives the atomic mass of an element. Atomic number is the total number of protons present in the nucleus of an atom. It is denoted by the letter Z. The chemical properties of an element are determined by the number of protons in the nucleus. This is why knowing atomic numbers is important to understanding the chemistry of the elements.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Q1. What is the symbol of an element with the atomic number 118?

Ans. Oganesson with the symbol Og, for the element with Z = 118.

Q2. What element has the longest name?

Ans. Rutherfordium

Q3. Which is the heaviest element?

Ans. The heaviest stable element is uranium, but over the years, physicists have used accelerators to synthesize larger, heavier elements. The United States and Russia created element 118 in the year 2006.

Q4. What is the most stable element?

Ans. There are 90+ elements of the periodic table that occur naturally in the Universe, but of them all, iron is the most stable.