Question

Which of the following symbols of elements is not taken from Latin names?
A. K
B. Na
C. Cu
D. Zn

Answer 1

Hint: Periodic table is a great source of information about the elements and their relation to each other. Changes of different periodic properties. Also, this helps to predict the properties of the elements even if they are not discovered. To identify these elements of the periodic table a chemical symbol is used.

Complete step by step answer:
The chemical symbol of an element is a one or two-letter expression for a chemical name. Where the 1st letter is capital and 2nd letter is lowercase. These symbols of elements also can refer to the alchemy symbols for the elements. For example, H for hydrogen, He for helium, Br for bromine, etc.
The Latin name of potassium is Kaline, the Latin name of sodium is natrium. The Latin name of copper is cuprium. And the Latin name of zinc is Zincum.
Now according to the Latin name the symbol, these elements should be,
For potassium is K, which is the actual symbol of potassium.
For sodium is Na, which is the actual symbol of sodium.
For copper is Cu, which is the actual symbol of copper.
And for zinc is Zi, but the symbol of the zinc is Zn.

So, the correct answer is D.

Note:
In the periodic table, all the elements are arranged by the atomic numbers. Generally, on the left side of the periodic table, elements are metallic in nature. Moving from left to right the metallic character decreases and the non-metallic character increases. At the extreme left elements are non-metallic in nature. There is a total of 118 numbers of the elements in the modern periodic table.