Hi everyone,

I'm new to chemistry and I'll be taking a course in which I know that I am going to have to memorize the numbers and symbols to the basic elements. Can anyone give me a list of just the basic elements (or most common)? I would really appreciate it.

 

Thanks:cool:

 

P.S. I have a list of all the known elements and their symbols, but I'm not sure which ones are the most common elements.

This is pretty simple. The elements you'll have to deal with most often in "basic chemistry" are the following (Mind you these are not in ANY real order. Just the order they came into my head as I started thinking about common compounds that are used in basic chemistry.);

 

Hydrogen - H

Oxygen - O

Carbon - C

Sodium - Na

Chlorine - Cl

Potassium - K

Nitrogen - N

Sulfur - S

Iodine - I

Copper - Cu

Silver - Ag

Zinc - Zn

Lead - Pb

Mercury - Hg

Bromine - Br

Fluorine - F

Iron - Fe

Phosphorus - P

Magnesium - Mg

Calcium - Ca

 

You could also probably remember the noble gases as well, but for now I think the list I provided will suit you well.

Sometimes Lithium (Li) is used too.

Thanks guys.. I highlighted them. What's the best way to memorize the basic elements and their symbols? Should I read over them, repeat them, or write them out? Thanks

No, it's not too hard to memorize all of them when you are used to them everyday in your chemistry classes.

I didn't see Helium (He), so add that to the mix.

Don't forget Aluminium (Al), third most abundant element in the earth's crust!!!