AC
Actinium. Atomic number: 89 From the Greek word aktinos (ray). Discovered by Andre Debierne in 1899. Actinium is extremely rare.
AG
Silver. Atomic number: 47 From the latin word argentum (silver). Used in jewelry, photography and as an electrical conductor.
AL
Aluminum. Atomic number: 13 Discovered in 1825 by Hans Christian Oersted.
Alabama.
AM
Americium. Atomic number: 95 Named after America, of course! Discovered by Glenn Theodore Seaborg in 1945. Used in smoke detectors. A man-made element.
AR
Argon. Atomic number: 18 Discovered in 1894 by Sir William Ramsey.
Argon. Atomic number: 18 From the Greek word argon (inactive).
AS
Arsenic. Atomic number: 33 Used as a poison and a conductor of electricity.
AT
Astatine. Atomic number: 85 From the Greek word astatos (unstable). Discovered by Dale Corson in 1940. A man-made element.
AU
Gold. Atomic number: 79 From the Old English word geolo (yellow). The symbol, Au, originates from the Latin word aurum (gold). Used in electronics, jewelry, and coins.
B
Boron. Atomic number: 5 Discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy and J.L Gay-Lussac.
Boron. Atomic number: 5 Used in heat resistant alloys.
BA
Barium. Atomic number: 56 From the Greek word barys (heavy). Discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808.
BE
Beryllium. Atomic number: 4 Discovered in 1798 by Fredrich Wohler.
BH
Bohrium. Atomic number: 107 Named after Niels Bohr, a Danish physicist. A man-made element.
BI
Bismuth. Atomic number: 83 From the German word wissmuth (white mass). Used in pharmaceuticals and fuses.
Bisexual?
Perhaps you mean "bye."
BK
Berkelium. Atomic number: 97 Named after Berkeley, California. A man-made element. Discovered by Glenn Theodore Seaborg in 1949. That Glenn certainly was one ambitious fellow!
BR
Bromine. Atomic number: 35 Discovered in 1826 by Atoine J. Balard.
Bromine. Atomic number: 35 From the Greek word brômos (stench). Poisonous.
C
Carbon. Atomic number: 6 From the Latin carbo (coal).
CA
Calcium. Atomic number: 20 Discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy.
Calcium. Atomic number: 20 From the latin word calcis (lime). Used by life forms for bones and shells.
California.
CD
Cadmium. Atomic number: 48 Poisonous. Discovered in 1817 by Fredrich Stromeyer.
CE
Cerium. Atomic number: 58 Named after the asteroid Ceres. Discovered by Wilhelm von Hisinger in 1803. Used in heat-resistant alloys.
CF
Californium. Atomic number: 98 Named after California, of course! A man-made element discovered by Glenn Theodore Seaborg. Way to go, Glenn!
CL
Chlorine. Atomic number: 17 Discovered in 1774 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele.
Chlorine. Atomic number: 17 From the Greek word khlôros (green).
CM
Curium. Atomic number: 96 Named after our homeys, Marie and Pierre Curie, of course! Discovered by Good old Glenn Theodore Seaborg in 1944. A man-made element.
CO
Colorado.
Cobalt. Atomic number: 27 Discovered in 1737 by George Brandt.
Cobalt. Atomic number: 27 From the German word kobalt or kobold (evil spirit). Used in magnets, ceramics, and special glasses.
CR
Chromium. Atomic number: 24 Discovered in 1797 by Louis Vauquelin.
Chromium. Atomic number: 24 From the Greek word chrôma (color). Used in stainless steel.
CS
Cesium. Atomic number: 55 From the Latin word caesius (sky blue). Discovered by Fustov Kirchoff in 1860. Removes air traces in vacuum tubes.
CU
Copper. Atomic number: 29 From the Latin word cyprium, after the island of Cyprus. Used in jewelry, coins, plumbing, and as an electrical conductor.
DB
Dubnium. Atomic number: 105 Named after Dubna, Russia. Discovered in 1970 by Albert Ghiorso. A man-made element.
DY
Dysprosium. Atomic number: 66 From the Greek word dysprositos (hard to get at). Discovered by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1886. Used in nuclear reactors.
ER
Erbium. Atomic number: 68 Named for Ytterby, a town in Sweden. Discovered by Carl Mosander in 1843. Used in ceramics.
ES
Einsteinium. Atomic number: 99 A man-made element discovered in 1952 at the University of California. Named after--who else?--the indispensible Albert Einstein. Splendid!
EU
Europium. Atomic number: 63 Named after Europe, of course. Discovered in 1901 by Eugene Demarcay. Used in color televisions. A man-made element.
F
Fluorine. Atomic number: 9 Discovered in 1886 by Joseph Henri Moissan.
Fluorine. Atomic number: 9 From the Latin word fluo (flow).
Fluorine. Atomic number: 9 Used in refrigerants.
FE
Iron. Atomic number: 26 From the Latin word ferrum (iron). Iron is in hemoglobin, which causes the red coloration of human blood.
FM
Fermium. Atomic number: 100 Named after Enrico Fermi. A man-made element, discovered in 1953 at the University of California.
FR
Francium. Atomic number: 87 Named after France. Discovered in 1939 by Marguerite Derey.
GA
Georgia.
Gallium. Atomic number: 31 Discovered in 1875 by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran.
Gallium. Atomic number: 31 From the Latin word Gallia, the old name of France.
GD
Gadolinium. Atomic number: 64 A magnetic element. Discovered by Jean de Marignac in 1880.
GE
Germanium. Atomic number: 32 Discovered in 1886 by Clemens Winkler.
H
Hydrogen. Atomic number: 1 From the Greek words hudôr (water) and gennan (generate).
Hydrogen. Atomic number: 1 Discovered in 1766 by Henry Cavendish.
HE
Helium. Atomic number: 2 From the Greek word hêlios (sun).
Helium. Atomic number: 2 Discovered in 1895 by Sir William Ramsey.
HF
Hafnium. Atomic number: 72 From the Latin word for Copenhagen, hafnia. Discovered by Dirk Coster in 1923. Used in nuclear reactors.
HG
Mercury. Atomic number: 80 Named after the planet Mercury. The symbol, Hg, originates from the Latin word hydrargyrum, meaning liquid silver. Used in thermometers, barometers, fluorescent lamps, and batteries.
HO
Ho, ho, ho, indeed.
Colloquial expression: derogatory. You are a ho.
Holmium. Atomic number: 67. Form the Latin word Holmia (Stockholm). Discovered by Jacques Louis Soret in 1878. Used in nuclear reactors.
HS
Hassium. Atomic number: 108 From the Latin word Hassias, a German state. Discovered in 1984. A man-made element.
I
Iodine. Atomic number: 53 From the Greek word iôdes (violet). Discovered in 1811 by Bernard Courtois.
Iodine. Atomic number: 53 Humans require iodine. Iodine deficiency in humans tends to cause a goiter.
IN
Indiana.
Indium. Atomic number: 49 Discovered in 1863 by Ferdinand Reich. Named for the indigo color seen in its spectrographical spectrum.
IR
Iridium. Atomic number: 77 From the Latin word iridis (rainbow). Discovered in 1804 by Smithson Tenant.
K
Potassium. Atomic number: 19 Discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphrey Davy. Did you know that one banana has 11 percent of the potassium a human requires in a day?!
Potassium. Atomic number: 19 From the Latin word kalium. Used in glass and soap.
KR
Krypton. Atomic number: 36 Discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsey.
Krypton. Atomic number: 36 From the Greek word kryptos (hidden). Also the name of Superman's home planet.
LA
Louisiana.
What a hideous singing voice you have.
Lanthanium. Atomic number: 57 From the Greek word lanthaneis (to lie hidden). Discovered in 1839 by Carl Mosander. Used in expensive camera lenses.
LI
Lithium. Atomic number: 3 From the Greek word lithos (stone).
Lithium. Atomic number: 3 Discovered in 1817 by Johann Arfvedson.
LR
Lawrencium. Atomic number: 103 A man-made element discovered by Albert Ghiorso in 1961. Named after Joey Lawrence, best known for his role on the television series "Blossom."
LU
Lutetium. Atomic number: 71 From Lutetia, the ancient name of Paris. Discovered by Georges Urbain in 1907.
MD
Maryland.
Mendelevium. Atomic number: 101 Named after Dmitri Ivanovitch Mendeleev, one of the pioneers of chemistry. A man-made element discovered by that busy bee, Mr. Glenn Theodore Seaborg. You go, Glenn!
MG
Magnesium. Atomic number: 12 Discovered in 1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy.
Magnesium. Atomic number: 12 From Magnesia (City).
MN
Minnesota.
Manganese. Atomic number: 25 Discovered in 1774 by Johann Gahn.
Manganese. Atomic number: 25 From the Latin word mangnes (magnet). Used in steel, batteries, and ceramics.
MO
Missouri.
Molybdenum. Atomic number: 42 Discovered in 1778 by Carl Wilhelm Scheele. From the Greek word molubdos (lead).
MT
Montana.
Meitnerium. Atomic number: 109 Named after Lise Meitner, and Austiran physicist. A man-made element.
N
Nitrogen. Atomic number: 7 Discovered in 1772 by Daniel Rutherford.
Nitrogen. Atomic number: 7 Forms most of Earth's atmosphere.
NA
Sodium. Atomic number: 11 Discovered in 1807 by Sir Humphrey Davy.
Sodium. Atomic number: 11 Used in table salts and other foods.
NB
Niobium. Atomic number: 41 Discovered in 1801 by Charles Hatchet. Named after Niobe, the mythical daughter of a mythical king Tantalus.
ND
North Dakota.
Neodymium. Atomic number: 60 From the Greek words neos (new) and didymos (twin). Discovered by Carl Freiherr Auer von Welsbach in 1925.
NE
Neon. Atomic number: 10 Discovered in 1898 by Sir William Ramsey.
Neon. Atomic number: 10 Form the Greek word neos (new).
Nebraska.
NI
Nickel. Atomic number: 28 Discovered in 1751 by Alex Cronstedt.
Nickel. Atomic number: 28 From the German word kupfernickel (false copper).
NO
Oh.
Yes yes.
Oh.
Yes yes.
Nobelium. Atomic number: 102 A man-made element discovered in 1957 at the Nobel Institute for Physics. Named after that infamous inventor of TNT, Alfred Nobel. Go Alfred! It's your birthday!
NP
Neptunium. Atomic number: 93 Named after the planet Neptune, of course. Discovered by Edwin McMillan in 1940. A man-made element.
O
Oxygen. Atomic number: 8 Discovered in 1774 by Joseph Priestly.
Oxygen. From the Greek words oxus (acid) and gennan (generate). Atomic number: 8 Also the name of a cable television channel aimed at a female audience.
OS
Osmium. Atomic number: 76 From the Greek word osmë (odor). Discovered in 1803 by Smithson Tenant.
P
Phosphorus. Atomic number: 15 Discovered in 1669 by Hennig Brand.
Phosphorus. Atomic number: 15 From the Greek words phôs (light) and phoros (bearer).
PA
Pennsylvania.
Protactinium. Atomic number: 91 From the Greek word protos (first). Discovered by Fredrich Soddy in 1917.
PB
Lead. Atomic number: 82 Pb comes from the Latin word plumbum (Lead).
PD
Palladium. Atomic number: 46 Discovered in 1803 by William Wollaston. Name for the Greek goddess of wisdom, Pallas, and after and asteroid. Used in jewelry and medical instruments.
PM
Promethium. Atomic number: 61 Disvcovered in 1945 by Jacob Marinsky. Named after the mythical god Prometheus, whose name is Latin for forethought. Prometheus purportedly stole fire from the sky and gave it to man.
PO
Polonium. Atomic number: 84 Named after Poland. Discovered by Marie Curie and her husband Pierre in 1898.
The red teletubby, smallest of the four.
PR
Praseodymium. Atomic number: 59 From the Greek words prasios (green) and didymos (twin). Discovered by Carl Freiherr Auer von Welsbach in 1885. Used for the coloring of glass and ceramics.
PT
Platinum. Atomic number: 78 From the Spanish word platina (little silver). Discovered by Julius Scaliger in 1735.
PU
What a pungent odor. Is that you?
Plutonium. Atomic number: 94 Named after the planet Pluto, of course! Discovered by Glenn Theodore Seaborg in 1940. Used in bombs and nuclear reactors.
RA
Radium. Atomic number: 88 From the Latin word radius (ray). Discovered in 1898 by Marie Curie and her husband, Pierre. Used in the treatment of cancer.
RB
Rubidium. Atomic numbeR: 37 Discovered in 1861 by Robert Bunsen.
Rubidium. Atomic numbeR: 37 From the Latin word rubidus (red).
RE
Rhenium. Atomic number: 75 Discovered in 1925 by Walter Noddack.
RF
Rutherfordium. Atomic number: 104 Discovered in 1969 by Albert Ghiorso. A man-made element.
RH
Rhodium. Atomic number: 45 From the Greek word rhodon (rose). Discovered in 1803 by William Wollaston. A by-product of nickel production.
RN
Radon. Atomic number: 86 Discovered by Fredrich Ernst Dorn in 1898. Used in the treatment of cancer.
RU
Ruthenium. Atomic number: 44 From the Latin word Ruthenia (Russia). Discovered in 1844 by Karl Klaus.
S
Sulfur. Atomic number: 16 Used in matches, gunpowder, and medicines.
SB
Antimony. Atomic number: 51 From the Greek words anti (opposed) and monos (solitude).
SC
Scandium. Atomic number: 21 Discovered in 1879 by Lars Nilson.
SE
Selenium. Atomic number: 34 Discovered in 1817 by Jons Berzelius.
Selenium. Atomic number: 34 From the Greek word Selênê (Moon). Used in photoelectric cells and television cameras.
SG
Seaborgium. Atomic number: 106 Discovered in 1974 by our pal Albert Ghiorso. A man-made element.
SI
Silicon. Atomic number: 14 Discovered in 1823 by Jons Berzelius.
Silicon. Atomic number: 14 From the Latin word silex (flint).
Silicon. Atomic number: 14 The second most abundant element on Earth.
SM
Samarium. Atomic number: 62 Discovered by Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran in 1879. Used in magnets, alloys with cobalt, and nuclear reactors.
SN
Tin. Atomic number: 50 Rin Tin Tin's middle name.
SR
Strontium. Atomic number: 38 Discovered in 1790 by Adair Crawford. Used in flares and fireworks.
TA
Tantalum. Atomic number: 73 Named after king Tantalus in Greek mythology. Discovered by Anders Ekeberg in 1802.
TB
Terbium. Atomic number: 65 Named for Ytterby, a town in Sweden. Discovered by Carl Mosander in 1843. Used in color televisions.
TC
Technetium. Atomic number: 43 Discovered in 1937 by Carlo Perrier.
Technetium. Atomic number: 43 Name Origin: From the Greek word technêtos, meaning artificial. A man-made element.
TE
Tellurium. Atomic number: 52 From the Greek word tellus (Earth). Discovered in 1782 by Franz Muller von Reichenstein.
TH
Thorium. Atomic number: 90 Named after Thor, a Scandinavian god. Discovered by Jons Berzelius in 1828. Used in strong alloys and ultraviolet photoelectric cells.
TI
Titanium. Atomic number: 22 Discovered in 1791 by William Gregor.
Titanium. Atomic number: 22 From the Greek word titanos (Titans). Used in paint, rubber, and paper.
Titanium. Atomic number: 22 Our genitals are composed of solid titanium.
TL
Thallium. Atomic number: 81 From the Greek word thallos (young shoot). Discovered by Sir William Crookes. Used in rat and ant poisons.
TM
Thulium. Atomic number: 69 From Thule, the ancient name of Scandinavia. Discovered by Per Theodor Cleve in 1879. Thulium powers portable x-ray machines.
U
Us.
Uranium. Atomic number: 92 Named after the planet Uranus. Discovered by our friend Martin Klaproth in 1789, the year of the French Revolution. Used as fuel for nuclear reactors.
UUB
Ununbium. Atomic number: 112 It's name comes from un (one), un (one), bi (two), and ium (delicious). Discovered in 1996--the last element to be discovered.
UUN
Ununnilium. Atomic number: 110 It's name is a composite of un (one), un (one), nil (zero), and ium (delicious). Discovered in 1987. A man-made element.
UUU
Unununium. Atomic number: 111 It's name is a composite of un (one), un (one), un (one) and ium (delicious). Discovered in 1987. A man-made element.
V
Vanadium. Atomic number: 23 Discovered in 1830 by Nils Sefstrom.
Vanadium. Atomic number: 23 Named for Vanadis, a Scandinavian goddess.
W
Tungsten. Atomic number: 74 From the Swedish words tungs ten (heavy stone). Discovered in 1783 by Fausto and Juan Jose de Elhuyar. The first working material used by Thomas Edison in his light bulb.
XE
Xenon. Atomic number: 54 From the Greek word xenon (stranger). Discovered by Sir William Ramsey in 1898. Used in powerful lamps and bubble chambers.
Y
Yttrium. Atomic number: 39 Discovered in 1794 by Johann Gadolin. Used in color television sets and radar.
b cuz
YB
Ytterbium. Atomic number: 70 Named for Ytterby, a town in Sweden. Discovered by Jena de Marignac in 1878. Used in metallurgical and chemical experiments.
ZN
Zinc. Atomic number: 30 Discovered in 1746 by Andreas Marggraf.
Zinc. Atomic number: 30 From the German word zin (meaning tin).
ZR
Zirconium. Atomic number: 40 Discovered in 1789--the year of the French Revolution--by Martin Klaproth.