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Elementary? Trivia Quiz

Whether matter is solid, liquid or gas, it is made up of simple building blocks called atoms. These simplest substances are called elements, and their names are shortened to symbols. Try to work out which symbol goes with which element in these questions

A multiple-choice quiz by barrywlj. Estimated time: 2 mins.

Author
barrywlj

Time
2 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
334,138

Updated
May 26 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Easy

Avg Score
9 / 10

Plays
1541

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of these elements has the symbol N? Hint

Carbon

Oxygen

Nitrogen

Sulphur

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these has the symbol Br? Hint

Basalt

Calcium

Bromine

Boron

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following is the symbol for phosphorous? Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. This one uses the first letter plus another for the name. What is the symbol for magnesium? Hint

5. Some take their symbols from ancient names that look nothing like their common names. You may want to look at a Periodic Table of the Elements for these. What heavy grey metal has the symbol Pb? Hint

Cobalt

Polonium

Phosphorus

Lead

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Question 6 of 10

6. What is the symbol for sodium? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. What is the symbol for silver? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these is not an element? Hint

Carbon Monoxide

Oxygen

Carbon

Platinum

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Question 9 of 10

9. What metallic element has the symbol Au? Hint

Iron

Gold

Nickel

Zinc

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Question 10 of 10

10. My personal favourite element has the symbol Hg. What is it? Hint

Hydrogen

Hafnium

Helium

Mercury

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of these elements has the symbol N?

Answer: Nitrogen

Too easy? These use the first letter of the element. Nitrogen (N) is a gas that makes up about 78% of our atnosphere. Oxygen (O), vital to life, makes up 21%. Sulphur (S) and carbon (C) are solids.
It is always a capital letter.

2. Which of these has the symbol Br?

Answer: Bromine

Some elements use the first two letters of the name, like bromine. Calcium (Ca) does this. Boron (B) uses the first letter and basalt is not an element, but a mineral (rock). The first letter is a capital and the second lower case.

3. Which of the following is the symbol for phosphorous?

Answer: P

Another easy one to learn - just the first letter. Phosphorous is a dangerous element, catching fire if exposed to air. It is used to make some matches.

4. This one uses the first letter plus another for the name. What is the symbol for magnesium?

Answer: Mg

Often the first and third letters are used. Manganese is Mn. Ms and Ma mean nothing. Magnesium is a metallic element that burns with a bright flame.

Answer: Lead

Lead takes its name from plumbum, a Latin word. Plumbers are called that because they used to work with lead pipes. Cobalt is Co, chromium is Cr and copper is Cu (also from a Latin word - cuprum).

6. What is the symbol for sodium?

Answer: Na

Sodium takes its name from the Latin natrium. It explodes if placed in water, so is usually stored in kerosene. Combine sodium (Na) with chlorine (Cl) and you get the compound sodium chloride (NaCl) or table salt. S is sulphur, which shows why it can't also be sodium.

7. What is the symbol for silver?

Answer: Ag

Another Latin one - argentum. Argentina was named for this because silver was mined there. S is sulphur and Si is silicon.

8. Which of these is not an element?

Answer: Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a compound with formula CO, made up of carbon (C) and oxygen (O), both elements. Platinum is an element with symbol Pt. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced in car exhausts.

9. What metallic element has the symbol Au?

Answer: Gold

Gold has the symbol Au from the Latin aurum, meaning gold. Iron is Fe from Latin ferrum, nickel is simply Ni, and zinc is Zn.

10. My personal favourite element has the symbol Hg. What is it?

Answer: Mercury

Mercury takes its symbol from the Latin hydrargyrum or quicksilver. Like the fast planet Mercury and the Roman winged messenger of the gods, it is 'quick', and impossible to pick up if you spill it. (Careful, it's also poisonous!)
Hydrogen, the lightest element, is H. Helium (2nd lightest) is He and hafnium is Hf.

Source: Author barrywlj

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor NatalieW before going online.
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