Question

7\. Give the symbols and names for the elements whose chemical symbols consist of only one letter.

Short answer

The elements with single-letter symbols are: 1. Hydrogen (H) 2. Boron (B) 3. Carbon (C) 4. Nitrogen (N) 5. Oxygen (O) 6. Fluorine (F) 7. Sodium (Na, note that in this case, only one letter is an uppercase) 8. Phosphorus (P) 9. Potassium (K, note the uppercase) 10. Yttrium (Y) 11. Tungsten (W, note the uppercase)

Step-by-step solution

Understanding the Periodic Table

The periodic table is a tabular arrangement of the chemical elements, organized by their atomic number, electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties. Elements are presented in order of increasing atomic number. We will go through this table and find all the elements with only one-letter symbol.

Identifying the elements with single-letter symbols

After going through the Periodic table, we find the following elements with a single-letter symbol: 1. Hydrogen (H) 2. Boron (B) 3. Carbon (C) 4. Nitrogen (N) 5. Oxygen (O) 6. Fluorine (F) 7. Sodium (Na, note that in this case, only one letter is an uppercase) 8. Phosphorus (P) 9. Potassium (K, note the uppercase) 10. Yttrium (Y) 11. Tungsten (W, note the uppercase) These are the elements with chemical symbols that consist of only one letter.

Key concepts

Understanding the Periodic Table

The periodic table is like a big grid where each box represents a different element, and these elements are the building blocks of everything we see, touch, and interact with daily. To make sense of this vast array of elements, scientists have developed a system that helps us understand their properties and how they relate to one another.

Each element on the periodic table is unique and is given an atomic number. This number corresponds to the number of protons found in the nucleus of an atom of that element. Starting from the top left corner with Hydrogen, the elements increase sequentially in atomic number. The layout isn't just random, but reflects the elements' electron configurations and the way they react chemically with other elements.

The table is divided into rows called periods and columns called groups. Similar elements with shared properties are lumped together in groups. The periodic table also tells you a lot about the elements' states of matter, with metals on one side, nonmetals on the other, and a mixed group in the middle called metalloids.

The Significance of the Atomic Number

The atomic number, denoted as Z, is crucial for understanding the element's identity. It's the number of protons in an atom's nucleus, and since each element has a unique number of protons, the atomic number effectively serves as an element's ID card.

This little number also tells us so much more. For instance, since electrons balance out the charge of protons in a neutral atom, the atomic number also indicates how many electrons are whizzing around the nucleus when the atom isn't charged. As a result, it becomes valuable in determining the electronic configuration of an element which in turn explains a lot about its chemical behavior and the types of bonds it can form. When it comes to elements with a single letter in the periodic table, their atomic numbers are spread out: Hydrogen sits at number 1, Boron at 5, Carbon at 6, and so on.

Deciphering Electron Configurations

The electron configuration of an element describes how the electrons are distributed throughout the electron shells and subshells around the nucleus of an atom. Think of it as a map that tells us where the electrons live in their 'electron neighborhood'.

For example, Hydrogen, with an atomic number of 1, has just one electron placed in the first shell, which is the simplest configuration you can get. As you go through the elements with one letter in their symbol, their electron configurations become more complex, adding layers or shells and populating them with the correct number of electrons according to certain rules.

These configurations are important because they determine how an element will react chemically. The number of electrons in the outermost shell, especially, plays a crucial role in an element's reactivity. Elements try to have full outer shells, and they'll borrow, share, or give up electrons to get there. That's essentially what chemical bonding is all about.