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Should Element Names Be Capitalized?

James H. Sterling • • 6 min read
Should Element Names Be Capitalized?

Chemical elements
Within a sentence, the names of chemical elements are not capitalized, but the first letter of a chemical symbol should always be capitalized (e.g., “The sample contained calcium atoms” and “The sample contained Ca atoms”).

Why are elements capitalized?

The capitalization style is important to get right and in the correct context. ... If it's the first word of a sentence, the element or compound name should have the first letter capitalized. Chemical compounds or chemical elements should not be capitalized if they are used in the middle of a sentence.

How do you write the names of elements?

For Single Element Ions (e.g. K+ , Mg2+, P3-) To name positive (+) ions write the name as from the Periodic Table and add the word 'ion' afterwards. To name negative (-) ions write the name from the Periodic Table but replace the ending with �ide�.

James H. Sterling
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James H. Sterling

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.