Memorizing chemical element symbols

Memorizing chemical element symbols

Here’s something I’ve wondered about before: are there good mnemonics for chemical element symbols? Some element symbols are based on Latin or German names and seem arbitrary to English speakers, such as K (kalium) for potassium or Fe (ferrum) for iron. However, these elements are very common and so their names and symbols are familiar. When you take out the elements whose symbols are mnemonic in another language, every element symbol begins wit…