Element List – Element Names, Symbols, and Atomic Numbers

This element list includes the names, symbols, and atomic numbers of all 118 chemical elements, arranged in order of increasing atomic number. The atomic number is the number of protons in an atom of that element. Each element has a symbol, which is a one- or two-letter abbreviation of its name. Sometimes the symbol represents an old name (e.g., Ag for argentum, Pb for plumbum, Au for aurum).

The element list is a handy reference for students, teachers, and anyone interested in the periodic table of elements.

Key Takeaways: Element List

• This element list contains all 118 officially recognized chemical elements.
• Elements are arranged by increasing atomic number (number of protons).
• Each entry includes the atomic number, symbol, and element name.
• A printable PDF and CSV version are available for download.
• The list matches the current IUPAC-recognized periodic table.

Element List PDF and Table

This list is available for download as a CSV text file and as a PDF file. The PDF prints cleanly on standard letter-size paper and includes all 118 elements with their atomic numbers and symbols. If you prefer working with spreadsheets or databases, the CSV file can be opened in Excel, Google Sheets, or other spreadsheet software.

🧪 How to Use This Element List

This element list is a quick-reference tool for students, educators, and science enthusiasts. Here are a few practical ways to use it:

• Study Aid: Use the list for memorizing element names, symbols, and atomic numbers for chemistry class, exams, or competitions.
• Worksheet or Quiz Resource: Print the list as a handout or for creating flashcards and classroom activities.
• Project Reference: Include it in science fair posters, lab notebooks, or educational displays.
• Periodic Table Companion: Pair it with a printable periodic table for a complete atomic reference set.

Whether you’re learning the periodic table or preparing classroom materials, this list keeps essential element information at your fingertips.

How to Find an Element Quickly

If you already know one piece of information about an element, you can usually identify the rest.

• Know the atomic number? Scan the first column to find the element.
• Know the symbol? Locate the abbreviation to find the full name.
• Know the element name? Read across the row to find its symbol and atomic number.

For example:

• Fe → Iron → Atomic number 26
• Gold → Au → Atomic number 79
• Element 8 → Oxygen → O

How Atomic Numbers Work

Every chemical element has a unique atomic number, which equals the number of protons in the nucleus of each atom. Hydrogen always has one proton, helium has two, carbon has six, and uranium has ninety-two. Because the atomic number uniquely identifies an element, scientists arrange the periodic table and this element list in numerical order.

Element Symbols That Don’t Match Their English Name

Some chemical symbols are based on older Latin names instead of the English element name.

Future Elements

Right now, there are no blank spaces in the periodic table up to element 118. The present table has 7 periods. However, international research teams continue attempts to synthesize elements 119 and 120, which would begin an eighth period of the periodic table. Once a new element is synthesized, the IUPAC reviews the research before approving new name and symbol. The discoverer suggests a new name and symbol, but the IUPAC has the final word. The systematic element name is in use until a new name is approved. This name describes the atomic number of the element, followed by the -ium suffix. For example, element 120 has the temporary name of unbinilium. The temporary names are cumbersome, so it’s perfectly acceptable to refer to an unverified element by its atomic number (e.g., element 122, element 145).

Element Quick Facts

❓ FAQs About the Element List

What is an element?

An element is a pure chemical substance consisting of atoms with the same number of protons in their nuclei. This number is the atomic number and determines the element’s identity.

Why are elements in order of atomic number?

The atomic number reflects the number of protons in an atom and defines the element. Ordering elements by atomic number reveals repeating chemical properties — the basis of the periodic table.

What is the symbol for an element?

Each element has a unique one- or two-letter symbol (like H for hydrogen or Fe for iron), usually based on its English or Latin name.

What is the first element?

Hydrogen is the first element, with atomic number 1.

What is the last element?

Oganesson (Og) is currently the last officially recognized element and has atomic number 118.

How many naturally occurring elements are there?

Most chemists recognize 94 naturally occurring elements, from hydrogen through plutonium, although several occur only in trace amounts through radioactive decay.

Is the element list the same as the periodic table?

Not exactly. This page lists the elements in numerical order. The periodic table organizes those same elements into rows and columns that reveal repeating chemical properties.

What is the newest element on the list?

There are actually four elements that qualify as “newest.” Nihonium (113), moscovium (115), tennessine (117), and oganesson (118) were all officially recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) in December 2015, with their names approved in 2016. In terms of the timeline of experimentation, the newest element is tennessine.

Are there elements beyond 118?

Not yet. Scientists are working toward synthesis of element 119 and beyond.

References

• Ball, P. (2004). The Elements: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-284099-8.
• Emsley, J. (2003). Nature’s Building Blocks: An A–Z Guide to the Elements. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-850340-8.
• IUPAC (1997). “Chemical element.” Compendium of Chemical Terminology (2nd ed.) (the “Gold Book”). doi:10.1351/goldbook.C01022