What element has the symbol 'Fr'?

The story behind the answer

Fr is the symbol for Francium (atomic number 87), an alkali metal named after France. Discovered in 1939 by Marguerite Perey at the Curie Institute, francium is extremely rare and highly radioactive—only trace amounts occur naturally in uranium and thorium ores, and it decays quickly.

Memory tip: Fr = FRance = FRancium. To avoid mix-ups, recall the other symbols: Fermium is Fm, Thulium is Tm, and Curium is Cm. Also, francium sits below cesium in the alkali metal column, reinforcing its highly reactive, unstable character.