Science, Tech, Math › Science Element Symbol Quiz Let's See How Well You Know the First 20 Element Symbols You need to know the element symbols in chemistry. Take a quiz to see if you've got what it takes!. GIPhotoStock / Getty Images Science Chemistry Periodic Table Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on March 06, 2017 1. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. Its symbol is: H He Ho Hy Correct Wrong Here's a fun fact for you. Even though about 74% of the atoms in the universe are hydrogen, it will eventually be fused into larger atoms. Helium and oxygen will be more abundant than hydrogen someday. 2. Helium is named for Helios or the sun. The symbol for helium is: H He Hm Su Correct Wrong Helium is named for the Sun because it was first discovered in a line from the solar spectrum. 3. Lithium is found in most igneous rocks. Its element symbol is: I L Li Lu Correct Wrong The name for lithium comes from 'lithos', which means stone. While you'll find lithium in rocks, it is too reactive to occur free in nature. 4. Beryllium is said to have a sweet taste. The symbol for beryllium is: B Be Br Y Correct Wrong Although beryllium and its compounds have a sweet flavor, you wouldn't want to eat it because the element is toxic to humans. 5. Boron is one of the semimetals or metalloids. The symbol for boron is: B Bo Br O Correct Wrong While you won't find boron free in nature, one common compound that contains it is borax, which is used as an insecticide and cleaner. 6. Carbon is the basis of life and organic chemistry. The symbol for carbon is: Ar C Ca Cr Correct Wrong As a pure element, carbon can be one of the hardest substances (diamond) or one of the softest (graphite). 7. Most of the earth's atmosphere consists of nitrogen gas. The symbol for nitrogen is: I N Ni O Correct Wrong You breathe in a lot of nitrogen, but your body can't make use of it. Bacteria "fix" nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants. When you eat plants or other animals, you can use their nitrogen. 8. Liquid oxygen is pale blue. The symbol for oxygen is: O Ox Xe Y Correct Wrong Oxygen gas is colorless, while the liquid form is blue. Solid oxygen is even more interesting, since it can be blue, red, orange, or even metallic black! 9. Fluorine is a pale yellowish green gas. The symbol for fluorine is: F Fl Lu U Correct Wrong Fluorine is the most electronegative element. It's also one of the most reactive elements. 10. One place you might find neon is in neon lights. The symbol for neon is: N Ne No O Correct Wrong Neon plasma glows red-orange when excited. If you see other colors of neon lights, it's because a coating applied to the glass changes the appearance. 11. Sodium is a metal that reacts violently with water. The symbol for sodium is: N Na S So Correct Wrong Sodium in water is a popular chemistry demonstration, but the project becomes more dangerous if you use other alkali metals. 12. Chlorophyll is an important molecule that contains magnesium. The symbol for magnesium is: Ag M Mg Mn Correct Wrong Magnesium is at the center of a chlorophyll molecule much like iron is at the center of a hemoglobin molecule. 13. Depending where you live, the name for this element is aluminum or aluminium. The symbol for aluminum is: A Al Am Au Correct Wrong The naming controversy continues to this day. Americans usually use the aluminum spelling, while much of the rest of the world uses aluminium. 14. Silicon is a widely used element. Electronics and living organisms rely on the element. The symbol for silicon is: I S Si Sn Correct Wrong Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, after oxygen. It's primarily found as silicon dioxide in sand and quartz. 15. Phosphorus glows green in the presence of oxygen. The symbol for phosphorus is: K Ka P Ph Correct Wrong The green glow of phosphorus comes from oxidation, not phosphorescence. 16. Sulfur has also been known as brimstone. The symbol for sulfur is: F S Su U Correct Wrong Sulfur is an interesting element that changes color from a yellow solid to a red-orange liquid. 17. Chlorine is found in household bleach. The symbol for chlorine is: C Ch Cl Co Correct Wrong Bleach contains sodium hypochlorite. It's dangerous to mix bleach with acids, bases, and many other chemicals because toxic chlorine compounds may be released as vapor. 18. Argon is found in some fluorescent lights. The symbol for argon is: A Ag Ar N Correct Wrong Argon in lights works like neon, except the color of the glow is different. 19. Potassium compounds can impart a violet color to flames. The symbol for potassium is: K Ka P Po Correct Wrong You can color flames purple by adding salt substitute, which is potassium chloride. 20. Calcium is found in your bones and teeth. The symbol for calcium is: C Ca Cl Cm Correct Wrong Calcium is used to form the hardest substance in the body, which is the enamel of teeth. Element Symbol Quiz You got: % Correct. Elementary School Knowledge of Element Symbols Failing chemistry class!. Roberto A Sanchez / Getty Images Okay, so the element symbols aren't really your thing. That's alright! You learned some taking the quiz. If you're interested in knowing the rest, here's the list of the first 20 element symbols. There are also a few tricks for memorizing them you can try. Would you rather take another quiz? Here's one that tests whether or not you can recognize the elements based on how they look. Share Your Results Element Symbol Quiz You got: % Correct. C is for Carbon (and also your grade) C Grade on the Element Symbol Test. Ann Cutting, Getty Images Not bad! You are familiar with some of the chemical elements. It won't take much effort to learn them all. Here are some tips for remembering the first 20. That's really all you need to know, since the point of chemistry is understanding it, not memorizing everything. If you'd rather try another quiz, how about finding out which chemical element you'd be (if you were an element rather than person, which probably won't happen, but you never know). Share Your Results Element Symbol Quiz You got: % Correct. If You Were an Element Symbol, You'd Be A Ace a periodic table element symbol quiz!. Jonathan Kirn / Getty Images You rock! You know the element symbols. Now, if you're up for a challenge, how about memorizing the whole periodic table? If you'd like to try another quiz, how about this one that covers chemistry concepts most people should know. You'll ace it, right? Share Your Results