Why the symbols of few elements, like sodium, do not start with the initial letter of the name?
The symbols of a few elements like sodium do not start with the initial letter of the name because their symbol was derived from their names in Latin.
For example:
i. The symbol of sodium (Na) was derived from its latin name “natrium”
ii. The symbol of potassium (K) was derived from its latin name “kalium”
iii. The symbol of iron (Fe) was derived from its latin name “ferrum”
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