the symbol for tungsten is "W" because another name for that element is wolfram. The atomic symbol for gold is "Au" because the word for gold in Latin is "aurum." Atomic mass: The standard atomic ...

The symbol for potassium, K, derives from an Arabic word (al-qili) used by Islamic chemists during medieval times. The funny abbreviations for elements like gold (Au), silver (Ag), and iron (Fe ...