What element has the symbol 'C'?

The story behind the answer

The symbol C stands for Carbon. The other options use two-letter symbols: Calcium (Ca), Cadmium (Cd), and Cobalt (Co). Carbon (atomic number 6) is a nonmetal and the backbone of organic chemistry, capable of forming four bonds that create vast structures—from the hardness of diamond to the softness of graphite.

Fun context: “Carbon” comes from the Latin carbo, meaning coal/charcoal, hinting at its long-known history. Memory tip: Single-letter symbols usually belong to very common, early-known elements (C, H, O, N, S, P), while many metals use two letters to avoid clashes. So, a lone C points straight to Carbon.