Which element has the chemical symbol 'O'? A) Gold B) Oxygen C) Osmium D) Oganesson
VerifiedAnswer: B) Oxygen
Explanation:
The chemical symbol 'O' represents oxygen, one of the most essential elements for life on Earth. Oxygen is a chemical element with atomic number 8 on the periodic table and belongs to the chalcogen group. This element makes up about 21% of Earth's atmosphere and is crucial for respiration in most living organisms.
Let's examine why the other options are incorrect. Gold has the chemical symbol 'Au', which comes from its Latin name 'aurum'. This precious metal with atomic number 79 gets its symbol from historical naming conventions rather than its English name. Osmium, a dense transition metal with atomic number 76, uses the symbol 'Os'. Finally, Oganesson, a synthetic superheavy element discovered relatively recently, carries the symbol 'Og' and has atomic number 118.
The chemical symbol system follows specific rules established by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). Most symbols derive from the element's English name, like oxygen → O, hydrogen → H, and carbon → C. However, some elements retain symbols from their Latin or Greek names, especially those known since ancient times. Understanding these chemical symbols is fundamental in chemistry as they serve as a universal language for scientists worldwide, making chemical formulas and equations standardized across different countries and languages.
