(a) What is the significance of the symbol of an element ? Explain with the help of an example.
(b) Explain the significance of the symbol $$ H $$ .
(a) A symbol of an element is the short form used to represent an individual element or the atoms of the elements. Most of the symbols were derived from the names only. Other symbols have been taken from the names of elements in Latin, German, or Greek.
Example:
1) Symbol $$ O $$ refers to oxygen. This symbol of oxygen is formed from the first letter of oxygen i.e. $$O$$.
2) The symbol for sodium is $$Na$$ which is derived from the Latin word Natrium.
(b) Significance of Symbol $$ H $$ are:
i. It represents hydrogen as an element.
ii. It represents one atom of hydrogen element.
iii. It also represents one mole of hydrogen atoms.