Chemical Elements

The following are common chemical elements, with their Latin derivations.

• Calcium, Ca, from calx, calcis, lime.
• Carbon, C, from carbo, coal.
• Copper, Cu, from cuprum, derived from the island Cyprus, anciently known for its copper mines.
• Gold, Au, from aurum, gold.
• Iron, Fe, from ferum, iron.
• Lead, Pb, from plumbum, lead.
• Radium, Ra, from radius, ray, because of alpha, beta, and gamma rays.
• Silicon, Si, from silex, silicis, flint.
• Silver, Ag, from argentum, silver.
• Tellurium, Te, from tellus, telluris, earth.