Study for the Humber Admissions Test. Get ready with flashcards, multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What does an element symbol represent?

  1. A group of elements

  2. A single atom

  3. One or two letters representing an element

  4. The atomic number of an element

The correct answer is: One or two letters representing an element

The element symbol is a one- or two-letter notation used to represent a chemical element. Each symbol is derived from the element's name, often from its Latin or Greek origin, which allows for universal recognition in the field of chemistry. For example, the symbol for carbon is "C," and that for oxygen is "O." This system of notation is crucial because it provides a concise way to refer to elements in chemical equations and formulas. While some symbols may seem intuitive based on the English name of the element, others may surprise those unfamiliar with the original names or language roots. This coding system allows scientists from around the world to communicate complex chemical information efficiently and accurately.