Symbols & Formulae to Represent Scientific Ideas
Science: KS3, topic 4.1.2
Using Symbols and Formulae to Represent Scientific Ideas
Science contains lots of new terminology and rules for writing things out. The rules include how we write out elements and represent units.
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Science as a new language
- Science is like a new language.
- Science is full of new terminology.
- The periodic table has symbols to represent each element.
- The letters of the symbols are not from English spellings.
The letters in an element
- The first letter of each element is always a capital.
- Letters that follow are lowercase.
- Capital letters show a new element in a compound.
Compound example
- CaCO3 contains three elements.
- CaCO3 has 1 atom of Ca (calcium).
- CaCO3 has 1 atom of C (carbon).
- CaCO3 has 3 atoms of O (oxygen).
The naming of the elements
- Pb on the periodic table is Lead.
- Pb comes from the Latin plumbum.
- You will not be surprised to learn lead was once used in plumbing.
Elements named after
- Some elements are named after planets.
- Examples are Mercury and Plutonium.
- Some elements are names after scientists.
- Examples are Bohrium (Niels Bohr), Einsteinium (Albert Einstein).
Uses of symbols in science
- Scientists also use symbols to represent units.
- Kilogram – kg
- Degrees Celsius - °
- Joules – J
Symbols for radiation
- Scientists use symbols.
- The symbols come from the Greek alphabet.
- Scientists use these symbols to study radiation.
- Examples are alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
Test yourself on Symbols & Formulae to Represent Scientific Ideas
How many atoms of oxygen are in the compound CaCO3?
Select the correct statement in each pair
Why is the chemical symbol for lead written as Pb instead of starting with the letter L?