Chemical Elements
What element has the symbol 'S'?
Answer
Sulfur
Explanation
Sulfur is the element with the symbol S. The others have different symbols: Silicon is Si, Sodium is Na (from its Latin name, natrium), and Strontium is Sr. So S uniquely identifies Sulfur on the periodic table.
Fun fact: Sulfur (atomic number 16) has been known since antiquity as “brimstone.” While pure sulfur is yellow and odorless, many sulfur compounds (like hydrogen sulfide) smell like rotten eggs. Memory tip: S for Sulfur and for “Smelly” compounds—just remember the stink comes from sulfur’s compounds, not the element itself.