118 Elements and Their Symbols

The periodic table contains 118 officially recognized chemical elements, and every element has its own name, chemical symbol, and atomic number. Learning the 118 elements and their symbols is one of the most important foundations of chemistry because chemical symbols are used in formulas, equations, laboratory work, textbooks, and scientific research.

A chemical symbol is a short form used to identify an element. Most symbols contain one or two letters. The first letter is always capitalized, while the second letter, when present, is lowercase. For example, Hydrogen is H, Oxygen is O, Carbon is C, and Calcium is Ca.

The table below provides a complete list of all 118 elements and their symbols, arranged according to atomic number. It can be used as a quick reference for students, teachers, researchers, and anyone learning the periodic table.

118 Elements and Their Symbols: Complete List

There are 118 recognized elements, beginning with Hydrogen (H), atomic number 1, and ending with Oganesson (Og), atomic number 118. The atomic number tells us the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that element.

What Are Elements and Chemical Symbols?

A chemical element is a pure substance made up of atoms that have the same number of protons in their nuclei. The number of protons is called the atomic number, and it determines the identity of the element.

For example, every hydrogen atom has one proton, so hydrogen has atomic number 1. Carbon has six protons and therefore has atomic number 6. Oxygen has eight protons and atomic number 8.

Because writing the complete name of every element repeatedly can be inconvenient, scientists use chemical symbols. These symbols provide a universal shorthand for elements.

How Chemical Symbols Are Written

Chemical symbols usually contain one or two letters. A one-letter symbol is always uppercase. In a two-letter symbol, the first letter is uppercase and the second is lowercase.

Examples include:

• Hydrogen — H
• Helium — He
• Carbon — C
• Oxygen — O
• Magnesium — Mg
• Chlorine — Cl
• Calcium — Ca

Writing the capitalization correctly is important. For example, Co means cobalt, while CO does not represent the same thing because chemical symbols follow specific capitalization rules.

First 20 Elements and Their Symbols

The first 20 elements are especially important for students because they provide a useful starting point for learning the periodic table.

These elements include substances that are important in everyday life. Oxygen is essential for respiration, carbon is a major component of living organisms, sodium and potassium are important elements in biological systems, and calcium plays an important role in bones and teeth.

Element Symbols That Do Not Match Their English Names

One of the most difficult parts of learning the periodic table is remembering symbols that do not appear to match the English names. Several of these symbols come from older names or Latin names for the elements.

Sodium — Na

Sodium has the symbol Na, which comes from the older name natrium. This is why its symbol does not simply use the first two letters of “sodium.”

Potassium — K

Potassium is represented by K, derived from kalium. This makes it one of the easiest symbols to confuse when first learning the elements.

Iron — Fe

Iron has the symbol Fe, which comes from the Latin word ferrum.

Copper — Cu

Copper is represented by Cu, derived from the Latin name cuprum.

Silver — Ag

Silver has the symbol Ag, from the Latin word argentum.

Tin — Sn

Tin is represented by Sn, which comes from the Latin name stannum.

Antimony — Sb

Antimony has the symbol Sb, derived from the Latin name stibium.

Tungsten — W

Tungsten is one of the most notable examples. Its chemical symbol is W, based on the element’s historical name, wolfram.

Gold — Au

Gold has the symbol Au, derived from the Latin word aurum.

Mercury — Hg

Mercury is represented by Hg, based on the Latin name hydrargyrum.

Lead — Pb

Lead has the symbol Pb, which comes from the Latin word plumbum.

Remembering these unusual symbols separately can make studying the periodic table much easier.

Groups of Elements in the Periodic Table

The 118 elements are arranged in the periodic table according to their atomic numbers and recurring chemical properties. Elements are organized into periods, groups, and several broader categories.

Metals

Most elements in the periodic table are metals. Metals generally conduct heat and electricity and often have a shiny appearance when freshly exposed.

Examples include:

• Iron — Fe
• Copper — Cu
• Aluminum — Al
• Silver — Ag
• Gold — Au
• Zinc — Zn
• Titanium — Ti

Metals are used in construction, transportation, electronics, manufacturing, jewelry, and many other applications.

Nonmetals

Nonmetals have properties that differ from metals. Several nonmetals are essential to living organisms and are found in common substances.

Examples include:

• Hydrogen — H
• Carbon — C
• Nitrogen — N
• Oxygen — O
• Sulfur — S
• Chlorine — Cl

Metalloids

Metalloids have properties that are intermediate between metals and nonmetals. Important examples include Boron (B), Silicon (Si), Germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), and Tellurium (Te).

Silicon is particularly important in modern technology because it is widely used in semiconductor devices.

Noble Gases and Their Symbols

Noble gases are found in Group 18 of the periodic table. They are known for their relatively low chemical reactivity.

The seven recognized noble gases are:

• Helium — He
• Neon — Ne
• Argon — Ar
• Krypton — Kr
• Xenon — Xe
• Radon — Rn
• Oganesson — Og

Helium is used in applications such as cooling and balloons, while neon and other noble gases have applications in lighting and specialized technologies.

Lanthanides and Actinides

Two series of elements are commonly displayed separately below the main body of the periodic table: the lanthanides and actinides.

Lanthanides

The lanthanide series extends from Lanthanum (La) through Lutetium (Lu). These elements are often grouped with the rare-earth elements.

Examples include:

• Lanthanum — La
• Cerium — Ce
• Neodymium — Nd
• Europium — Eu
• Gadolinium — Gd
• Lutetium — Lu

Lanthanide elements are used in various technologies, including magnets, electronics, lighting, and specialized materials.

Actinides

The actinide series extends from Actinium (Ac) through Lawrencium (Lr). Many actinides are radioactive.

Examples include:

• Actinium — Ac
• Thorium — Th
• Uranium — U
• Plutonium — Pu
• Americium — Am
• Curium — Cm
• Lawrencium — Lr

Some actinides have important applications in nuclear science and research.

Why Are Element Symbols Important?

Chemical symbols are essential because they make scientific communication shorter, clearer, and more consistent. Instead of writing the complete name of an element every time, scientists can use its symbol.

For example, water is represented by H₂O. The formula shows that water contains hydrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide is written as CO₂, while sodium chloride is represented by NaCl.

Knowing element symbols is therefore important when studying chemical formulas, compounds, chemical reactions, equations, and atomic structure.

How to Memorize the 118 Elements and Their Symbols

Trying to memorize all 118 elements at once can be difficult. A better approach is to divide the list into smaller sections.

Start With the First 20

Begin by learning the first 20 elements and their symbols. Practice them in order until you can identify each one without looking at the table.

Learn Difficult Symbols Separately

Make a separate list of symbols that do not closely resemble the English element names. These include Na, K, Fe, Cu, Ag, Sn, Sb, W, Au, Hg, and Pb.

Use Atomic Numbers

Learning the atomic number alongside the element name and symbol creates three connected pieces of information. For example:

26 — Iron — Fe

29 — Copper — Cu

79 — Gold — Au

This approach can make recall easier.

Practice in Both Directions

Do not only practice “element name → symbol.” Also practice “symbol → element name.”

For example:

Au → Gold

Fe → Iron

Na → Sodium

This helps you recognize symbols when they appear in chemical formulas.

Common Uses of the Periodic Table

The periodic table is used in schools, universities, laboratories, medicine, engineering, manufacturing, and scientific research. Students use it to identify elements and understand their properties. Scientists use it to study relationships between atomic structure and chemical behavior.

The symbols are particularly useful when writing chemical formulas. Once students understand the symbols, they can begin recognizing and constructing formulas for many common compounds.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 118 Elements

How many elements are there?

There are 118 officially recognized chemical elements in the periodic table.

What are the 118 elements and their symbols?

The 118 elements range from Hydrogen (H) with atomic number 1 to Oganesson (Og) with atomic number 118. The complete list is provided in the table above.

What is the first element in the periodic table?

The first element is Hydrogen (H), which has atomic number 1.

What is the last element in the periodic table?

The element with the highest currently recognized atomic number is Oganesson (Og), which has atomic number 118.

What are the first 20 elements and their symbols?

The first 20 are Hydrogen (H), Helium (He), Lithium (Li), Beryllium (Be), Boron (B), Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O), Fluorine (F), Neon (Ne), Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Aluminum (Al), Silicon (Si), Phosphorus (P), Sulfur (S), Chlorine (Cl), Argon (Ar), Potassium (K), and Calcium (Ca).

Which element has the symbol Fe?

Fe is the chemical symbol for Iron, which has atomic number 26.

Which element has the symbol Na?

Na is the symbol for Sodium, which has atomic number 11.

Which element has the symbol Au?

Au is the symbol for Gold, which has atomic number 79.

Which element has the symbol Ag?

Ag is the chemical symbol for Silver, which has atomic number 47.

Which element has the symbol Pb?

Pb represents Lead, which has atomic number 82.

Why do some element symbols look different from their names?

Some symbols are based on historical or Latin names rather than the modern English names. Examples include Fe for iron, Na for sodium, Au for gold, and Pb for lead.

How many elements are metals?

Most of the 118 elements are classified as metals, although the exact number can vary slightly depending on how borderline elements are categorized. The periodic table also contains nonmetals and metalloids.

Quick Reference: Important Element Symbols

For quick revision, these commonly encountered elements are worth memorizing:

Conclusion

The 118 elements and their symbols are the foundation of the periodic table and an essential part of learning chemistry. Each element is identified by a unique atomic number and a standardized chemical symbol. From Hydrogen (H), the first element, to Oganesson (Og), element 118, the periodic table organizes elements according to their atomic numbers and chemical properties.

For students, the easiest way to learn the complete list is to start with the first 20 elements, practice frequently used symbols, and then gradually learn the remaining elements. Special attention should be given to symbols derived from historical or Latin names, such as Na, K, Fe, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, and Pb.

Whether you need a quick reference for homework, a study guide for an exam, or a complete list of elements 1–118 with their symbols and atomic numbers, the table above provides all 118 recognized elements in one place.

Marcus Lee

I am Marcus Lee, a cultural researcher and slang aficionado. I study the roots of informal language and how communities create meaning through words. My books “Slang Origins: A Journey Through Words” and “Words That Move Us: Slang Across Generations” focus on the history and psychology of slang. I enjoy guiding readers to understand not just the words, but the stories and attitudes they carry, so you can truly connect with language in daily life.