Basics and Lab Skills

Why does sodium's symbol look nothing like its name? These chemistry basics quizzes drill element symbols and lab equipment, the building blocks you need for any science class.

Element Symbols and Lab Equipment

One quiz shows you a symbol like Mg or Ca and asks for the element it stands for, building up a steady run of the common ones. The other helps you match lab tools to their jobs, naming the beaker that holds liquids and the thermometer that takes temperatures, with a few true or false safety checks mixed in.

The symbol quiz suits intermediate learners, while the equipment quiz is friendly for beginners. Between them, they cover the two things every chemistry student has to get comfortable with early on. The symbols quiz rewards steady recall, while the equipment quiz is really about knowing what each tool is for before you ever pick it up.

Did You Know?

A handful of element symbols look nothing like their English names because they come from older Latin words. Sodium is Na from natrium, iron is Fe from ferrum, and gold is Au from aurum, which is exactly why those symbols trip up so many students.

There is a safety surprise too. Regular sunglasses are not the same as proper lab eye protection, so they are not what you should reach for when an activity calls for safety goggles.

How the Quizzes Work

Both quizzes are quick, only about five minutes each, so you can run through them again and again until the symbols and tools come without thinking. Quick, regular practice is the easiest way to make these basics automatic, and if you have ever felt lost at a lab bench, this is the set that fixes that. Ready to get the fundamentals down? Open the free interactive chemistry quizzes and start here.

5. Element Symbols

This 12-question quiz tests how well you can match chemical symbols to their elements. You are given a symbol like Mg or Ca and name the element it stands for, working through a steady run of common ones. The non-obvious part is that several symbols do not line up with their English names at all, because they trace back to older Latin words, which is why a handful look nothing like the element you might expect. Spotting which ones carry those Latin roots is really the key to the trickier items in this set. Recommended level: intermediate.

score: 70% (everyone)

12 questions

9. Lab Equipment

If you are learning your way around a science lab, this 12-question quiz helps you match common equipment to the job it does. Questions ask things like What container is used for holding and measuring liquids? and What is used for measuring temperature?, with a few true or false statements mixed in to test your reading. A small piece of safety advice in here surprises some people: regular sunglasses are not the same as proper lab eye protection, so they are not what you reach for during every activity. Recommended level: beginner.

score: 93% (everyone)

12 questions