The original alchemists found it convenient to use an abbreviation to represent an element. The modern element symbols are usually based on the element names. The symbol start with a capital letter. The symbols for the elements are often the first letter in the element name or the first and second or third letter. Usually the metallic elements have a name ending in -ium. Like any generalization, there are clear exceptions like helium, He. Look at the following examples to see how the symbols and names relate.

Modern names

Latin names

bismuth is Bi

lithium is Li

platinum is Pt

tin Sn (stannum)

boron is B

magnesium is Mg

radon is Rn

potassium K (kalium)

calcium is Ca

manganese is Mn

silicon is Si

silver Ag (argentum)

carbon is C

nickel is Ni

sulfur is S

sodium Na (natrium)

chlorine is Cl

helium is He

zinc is Zn