What is the Latin name of Gold?
2013
What is the Latin name of Gold?
- A.
Argentum
- B.
Plumbum
- C.
Natrium
- D.
Aurum
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Concept: Chemical elements often carry symbols derived from their classical Latin (or Greek) names rather than their modern English names — a naming convention fixed by the Swedish chemist J. J. Berzelius in the 1810s. Recognising an element's Latin root name is the key to reading many chemical symbols correctly.
Application: Gold's Latin name is Aurum, which is exactly why the chemical symbol for gold is Au — not "G" or "Go".
Cross-check — Latin names of other common metals:
Latin name | Element (symbol) |
|---|---|
Argentum | Silver (Ag) |
Plumbum | Lead (Pb) |
Natrium | Sodium (Na) |
Aurum | Gold (Au) |
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