Element Name Origin Flashcards
Hydrogen
From the Greek for ‘water-forming’
Helium
From the Greek for ‘sun’
Lithium
From the Greek for ‘stone’
Beryllium
From the name for a mineral whose varieties include emerald and aquamarine
Boron
From the name for a soft white, soluble mineral first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and imported via the Silk Road
From the Greek for ‘water-forming’
Hydrogen
From the Greek for ‘sun’
Helium
From the Greek for ‘stone’
Lithium
From the name for a mineral whose varieties include emerald and aquamarine
Beryllium
From the name for a soft white, soluble mineral first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and imported via the Silk Road
Boron
Carbon
From the Latin for ‘coal’
From the Latin for ‘coal’
Carbon
Nitrogen
From the Greek for ‘saltpeter-forming’
From the Greek for ‘saltpeter-forming’
Nitrogen
Oxygen
From the Greek for ‘acid-forming’
From the Greek for ‘acid-forming’
Oxygen
Fluorine
From the Latin for ‘to flow’
From the Latin for ‘to flow’
Fluorine
Neon
From the Greek for ‘new’
From the Greek for ‘new’
Neon
Sodium
From the Arabic for ‘headache’ as one of its compounds was once widely used as a treatment for headaches
From the Arabic for ‘headache’ as one of its compounds was once widely used as a treatment for headaches
Sodium
Magnesium
From the name of a district in Thessaly in Greece
From the name of a district in Thessaly in Greece
Magnesium
Aluminum
From the Latin for ‘bitter salt’
From the Latin for ‘bitter salt’
Aluminum
Silicon
From the Latin for ‘flint’
From the Latin for ‘flint’
Silicon
Phosphorus
From the Greek for ‘light-bearing’
From the Greek for ‘light-bearing’
Phosphorus
Sulfur
From the Latin for ‘brimstone’
From the Latin for ‘brimstone’
Sulfur
Chlorine
From the Greek for ‘greenish yellow’
From the Greek for ‘greenish yellow’
Chlorine
Argon
From the Greek for ‘idle’
From the Greek for ‘idle’
Argon
Potassium
From the Latin for the mined and manufactured (from plant ashes) salts that contained the element
From the Latin for the mined and manufactured (from plant ashes) salts that contained the element
Potassium
Calcium
From the Latin for ‘lime’
From the Latin for ‘lime’
Calcium
Scandium
From an early name used for the Scandinavian Peninsula by the first cartographers
From an early name used for the Scandinavian Peninsula by the first cartographers
Scandium
Titanium
From the name for the sons of the Earth goddess of Greek mythology
From the name for the sons of the Earth goddess of Greek mythology
Titanium
Vanadium
From an Old Norse name for the Scandinavian goddess Freyja
From an Old Norse name for the Scandinavian goddess Freyja
Vanadium
Chromium
From the Greek for ‘colour’
From the Greek for ‘colour’
Chromium
Manganese
From the Latin for ‘magnet’
From the Latin for ‘magnet’
Manganese
Iron
From the Proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European for ‘strong’
From the Proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European for ‘strong’
Iron
Cobalt
From the German for ‘goblin’
From the German for ‘goblin’
Cobalt
Nickel
From the name for a mischievous sprite of German miner mythology
From the name for a mischievous sprite of German miner mythology
Nickel
Copper
From the English, ultimately from the Greek for ‘Cyprus’
From the English, ultimately from the Greek for ‘Cyprus’
Copper
Zinc
Most likely from the German for ‘prong’ or ‘tooth’
Most likely from the German for ‘prong’ or ‘tooth’
Zinc
Gallium
From the Latin name for France
From the Latin name for France
Gallium
Germanium
From the Latin name for Germany
From the Latin name for Germany
Germanium
Arsenic
From the French but ultimately from the Old Iranian for ‘golden’
From the French but ultimately from the Old Iranian for ‘golden’
Arsenic
Selenium
From the Greek for ‘moon’
From the Greek for ‘moon’
Selenium
Bromine
From the Greek for ‘stench’
From the Greek for ‘stench’
Bromine
Krypton
From the Greek for ‘hidden’
From the Greek for ‘hidden’
Krypton
Rubidium
From the Latin for ‘deep red’
From the Latin for ‘deep red’
Rubidium
Strontium
From the name of a village in Scotland
From the name of a village in Scotland
Strontium
Yttrium
From the name of a village in Sweden
From the name of a village in Sweden (Element 39)
Yttrium (from ‘Ytterby’)
Zirconium
From the name of a silicate mineral that is sometimes used as a substitute for diamond
From the name of a silicate mineral that is sometimes used as a substitute for diamond
Zirconium
Niobium
From the name of the daughter of king Tantalus from Greek mythology
From the name of the daughter of king Tantalus from Greek mythology
Niobium
Molybdenum
From the Greek for ‘piece of lead’
From the Greek for ‘piece of lead’
Molybdenum
Technetium
From the Greek for ‘artificial’
From the Greek for ‘artificial’
Technetium
Ruthenium
From the medieval Latin for Eastern Slavic lands
From the medieval Latin for Eastern Slavic lands
Ruthenium
Rhodium
From the Greek for ‘rose-coloured’
From the Greek for ‘rose-coloured’
Rhodium
Palladium
From the name of an asteroid, considered a planet at the time
From the name of an asteroid, considered a planet at the time
Palladium
Silver
From the proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately of unknown origin but possibly from the Akkadian for ‘refined’
From the proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately of unknown origin but possibly from the Akkadian for ‘refined’
Silver
