What element has the symbol 'W'?

The story behind the answer

Tungsten is the element with the symbol W because its symbol comes from its old German name, Wolfram. That’s why “Wolframite” is a tempting option—it’s actually the main ore of tungsten, not an element. By contrast, Tantalum is Ta and Thallium is Tl.

Tungsten (from Swedish “tung sten,” meaning “heavy stone”) is famous for having the highest melting point of any pure metal, which is why it was used in old incandescent light-bulb filaments and is still vital in cutting tools and aerospace alloys. Memory tip: W = Wolfram = Tungsten. If you picture a glowing “W”-shaped filament, you’ll remember the link.