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Why do the chemical symbols Fe, Cu, Ag, and Au differ from the English names of iron, copper, silver, and gold?
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transition metal
Modern version of the periodic table of the elements (printable).
The chemical symbols for iron (Fe), copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and gold (Au) differ from their English names because they are derived from their Latin names.1
In 1813, the Swedish scientist J.J. Berzelius proposed that chemical symbols be based on the Latin names of the elements, a practice that became standard by the mid-19th century. These specific symbols correspond to the following Latin terms:1
- Fe: ferrum (iron)
- Cu: cuprum (copper)
- Ag: argentum (silver)2
- Au: aurum (gold)1
While many elements use symbols derived from their modern English names, these transition metals retain symbols rooted in their historical and linguistic origins.13