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Question

Which one among the following are the correct symbols for the elements gold, tin and lead, respectively?

This question was previously asked in
CDS I 2023 English Previous Year Paper (16-April-2023)
The correct answer is

Au, Sn, Pb

Understanding Chemical Symbols for Elements

Chemical symbols are abbreviations used to represent chemical elements. Each element has a unique symbol, which is typically one or two letters derived from its English name or its Latin name. Knowing these symbols is fundamental in chemistry.

Identifying the Correct Symbols

We need to find the correct chemical symbols for three specific elements: gold, tin, and lead, in that exact order.

  • Gold: The chemical symbol for gold comes from its Latin name, 'Aurum'. The symbol is Au.
  • Tin: The chemical symbol for tin comes from its Latin name, 'Stannum'. The symbol is Sn.
  • Lead: The chemical symbol for lead comes from its Latin name, 'Plumbum'. The symbol is Pb.

So, the correct symbols in the required order are Au, Sn, and Pb.

Evaluating the Given Options

Let's look at the options provided and compare them with the correct symbols:

  • Option 1: Ga, Sb, Pb
  • Option 2: At, Sn, Le
  • Option 3: Au, Sn, Pb
  • Option 4: Au, Sb, Pb

Comparing these with the correct symbols (Au, Sn, Pb), we can see that Option 3 lists the correct symbols for gold, tin, and lead, respectively.

Conclusion

Based on the standard chemical symbols for gold, tin, and lead, the correct set of symbols is Au, Sn, Pb.

Revision Table: Elements and Their Symbols

Here is a table showing the elements mentioned in the options and their correct symbols to help clarify:

Element Name Chemical Symbol Origin (often Latin)
Gold Au Aurum
Tin Sn Stannum
Lead Pb Plumbum
Gallium Ga Gallia (Latin for France)
Antimony Sb Stibium
Astatine At Astastos (Greek for unstable)

Additional Information on Chemical Symbols

Chemical symbols are a shorthand way for scientists worldwide to refer to elements without language barriers. Some symbols are derived from English names (like H for Hydrogen, O for Oxygen), while many others come from older Latin or Greek names (like Fe for Iron from Ferrum, Na for Sodium from Natrium). This historical connection explains why the symbols for elements like gold (Au), tin (Sn), and lead (Pb) don't directly match their English names. Learning these common symbols is crucial for studying chemistry.

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Important Questions from Periodic Table

  1. The II group elements in the periodic table is known as

  2. The electronic configuration of an element is 2, 8, 8. It belongs to group

  3. The correct order of decreasing electron gain enthalpy with negative sign for chalcogens is - Identify

  4. Inert gases are?

  5. In computers, chip is made up of:

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