118 Elements and their symbols and Atomic numbers

About 118 Elements and their symbols and Atomic numbers; Chemistry is like learning a new language, and the elements are your first words. Everything around us, the water we drink, the air we breathe, even the food we eat, is made of different combinations of these elements.

In this guide, you’ll learn what elements are, why each one has an atomic number, how they are organised in the periodic table, and most importantly, how to remember them easily..

Table of Contents

• What Are Elements?
• What is the Atomic Number?
• What is the Atomic Mass Number?
• Understanding How Elements Are Arranged Scientifically
• List of 118 Elements with Their Names and Atomic Numbers
• How to Learn the 118 Elements With Ease
• Common Mistakes Students Make
• Why This All Matters!
• Conclusion

What Are Elements?

An element is a basic form of matter that cannot be broken down into anything simpler using chemical methods. Each element is made of only one kind of atom.

These elements are nature’s original ingredients; they’re found in everything from your pencil to your body to the stars.

Every element in the periodic table functions as a distinct building block of matter. It has:

• Protons in an atom are indicated by its atomic number.
• Also, the mass number is the sum of the protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

It can be readily represented by a symbol, which is a short, one- or two-letter name (for example, H for hydrogen, O for oxygen).

Some examples of elements you already know:

• The oxygen you breathe
• The iron in your blood
• The carbon in coal and diamonds

Each element has a unique name, and it's different from all the others.

Each element has a unique name, and it's different from all the others.

What is the Atomic Number?

An atomic number tells us how many protons are present in the nucleus (centre) of an atom of that element.

Think of it like a roll number - it gives each element its identity and position.

For example:

• The first element has one proton, so its atomic number is one
• The second element has two protons, so its atomic number is two
• And so on… up to one hundred and eighteen

No two elements have the same atomic number; it is what makes each element unique.

What is the Atomic Mass Number

The atomic mass number (or mass number) is the total number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom.
Formula:
Mass Number (A) = Number of Protons + Number of Neutrons

Example:
Carbon has 6 protons and 6 neutrons → Mass number = 12

This number gives us an idea of the size and weight of an atom's nucleus. But to understand how atoms interact or bond with each other, we also need to look at valency.

Valency

Valency is the combining capacity of an atom, i.e., how many electrons an atom can gain, lose, or share to form a stable compound.
Example:
Oxygen has a valency of 2 because it needs 2 electrons to complete its outer shell.

Understanding How Elements Are Arranged Scientifically

As more elements were discovered, scientists realised they needed a smart system to keep track of them. They arranged the elements in order of their atomic numbers, starting from the one with the fewest protons to the one with the most.

This arrangement became the Modern Periodic Table, where:

• Each element has its spot based on its atomic number
• Elements with similar properties are placed in the same vertical columns
• Horizontal rows show how many shells (energy levels) the atoms have

This table helps chemists predict how an element behaves, whether it will react easily or stay stable, whether it’s a metal or non-metal, and more.

List of 118 Elements with Their Names and Atomic Numbers

There are one hundred and eighteen elements known so far. Some are naturally found on Earth or in space, while others are made in laboratories.

Here’s how the first few look:

Name of the Element	Symbol of the Element	Atomic Number
Hydrogen	H	1
Helium	He	2
Lithium	Li	3
Beryllium	Be	4
Boron	B	5
Carbon	C	6
Nitrogen	N	7
Oxygen	O	8
Fluorine	F	9
Neon	Ne	10
Sodium	Na	11
Magnesium	Mg	12
Aluminium	Al	13
Silicon	Si	14
Phosphorus	P	15
Sulfur	S	16
Chlorine	Cl	17
Argon	Ar	18
Potassium	K	19
Calcium	Ca	20
Scandium	Sc	21
Titanium	Ti	22
Vanadium	V	23
Chromium	Cr	24
Manganese	Mn	25
Iron	Fe	26
Cobalt	Co	27
Nickel	Ni	28
Copper	Cu	29
Zinc	Zn	30
Gallium	Ga	31
Germanium	Ge	32
Arsenic	As	33
Selenium	Se	34
Bromine	Br	35
Krypton	Kr	36
Rubidium	Rb	37
Strontium	Sr	38
Yttrium	Y	39
Zirconium	Zr	40
Niobium	Nb	41
Molybdenum	Mo	42
Technetium	Tc	43
Ruthenium	Ru	44
Rhodium	Rh	45
Palladium	Pd	46
Silver	Ag	47
Cadmium	Cd	48
Indium	In	49
Tin	Sn	50
Antimony	Sb	51
Tellurium	Te	52
Iodine	I	53
Xenon	Xe	54
Cesium	Cs	55
Barium	Ba	56
Lanthanum	La	57
Cerium	Ce	58
Praseodymium	Pr	59
Neodymium	Nd	60
Promethium	Pm	61
Samarium	Sm	62
Europium	Eu	63
Gadolinium	Gd	64
Terbium	Tb	65
Dysprosium	Dy	66
Holmium	Ho	67
Erbium	Er	68
Thulium	Tm	69
Ytterbium	Yb	70
Lutetium	Lu	71
Hafnium	Hf	72
Tantalum	Ta	73
Tungsten	W	74
Rhenium	Re	75
Osmium	Os	76
Iridium	Ir	77
Platinum	Pt	78
Gold	Au	79
Mercury	Hg	80
Thallium	Tl	81
Lead	Pb	82
Bismuth	Bi	83
Polonium	Po	84
Astatine	At	85
Radon	Rn	86
Francium	Fr	87
Radium	Ra	88
Actinium	Ac	89
Thorium	Th	90
Protactinium	Pa	91
Uranium	U	92
Neptunium	Np	93
Plutonium	Pu	94
Americium	Am	95
Curium	Cm	96
Berkelium	Bk	97
Californium	Cf	98
Einsteinium	Es	99
Fermium	Fm	100
Mendelevium	Md	101
Nobelium	No	102
Lawrencium	Lr	103
Rutherfordium	Rf	104
Dubnium	Db	105
Seaborgium	Sg	106
Bohrium	Bh	107
Hassium	Hs	108
Meitnerium	Mt	109
Darmstadtium	Ds	110
Roentgenium	Rg	111
Copernicium	Cn	112
Nihonium	Nh	113
Flerovium	Fl	114
Moscovium	Mc	115
Livermorium	Lv	116
Tennessine	Ts	117
Oganesson	Og	118

Thinking about starting to learn? Look no further than the first twenty to thirty elements since these are the ones you will most likely use in a school-level Chemistry course.

How to Learn the 118 Elements With Ease

Don’t panic - you do not need to remember all 118 elements all at once. There are ways to make it enjoyable and easy on yourself:

1. Start Simple

Begin with the first ten. Then the next ten. Break it into small groups and learn one set at a time.

2. Use Real-Life Links

• Calcium is in milk
• Oxygen is what we breathe

3. Create Funny Sentences (Mnemonics)

A mnemonic is a silly sentence that helps you remember names.

For example:

Hi, He Likes Beer But Could Not Offer Full Nine Suns

Hi → Hydrogen (H)

He → Helium (He)

Likes → Lithium (Li)

Beer → Beryllium (Be)

But → Boron (B)

Could → Carbon (C)

Not → Nitrogen (N)

Offer → Oxygen (O)

Full → Fluorine (F)

Nine Suns → Neon (Ne)

This helps you recall the first ten elements in order.

You can make your own for each row or group of the table. The crazier the sentence, the more it sticks!

4. Write and Repeat

Write the list often. Speaking and writing together help build a strong memory.

Common Mistakes Students Make

• Mixing up atomic number with atomic mass (they are different)
• Confusing similar-sounding elements (like magnesium and manganese)
• Thinking all elements are metals, many are non-metals or gases
• Assuming symbols always match the English name - many come from Latin!

Why This All Matters!

Understanding the names and atomic numbers of elements is your first real step into Chemistry. It helps you:

• Write and read chemical reactions
• Understand how substances behave
• Prepare confidently for exams

Even if you just learn the first few rows, it gives you a strong base to build on.

Conclusion 

The important part about knowing the 118 elements isn't simply memorising their names. They dictate how we see the universe put together. With science educators, begin with scientific fundamentals, relate them to our everyday life, and learn in your own time. Chemistry can be quite simple and impactful if done right!