Elements are the purest form of substances. Elements consist of atoms of similar kind that have the same properties (there may be some isotopes). In comparison, compounds and mixtures are composed of atoms of different kinds. Elements are named and provided a certain symbol, consisting of one or two letters, for easy reference and reporting. For example, the element oxygen (not to be confused with oxygen gas, which is O2) has the chemical symbol O. The element sodium has a chemical symbol of Na. Similarly, precious elements such as gold and silver have chemical symbols of Au and Ag, respectively.
These chemical symbols are used in the periodic table of elements to denote a particular element. The same chemical symbol is used for a given element throughout the world, which helps maintain a uniform standard for reporting.
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