A chemical symbol is a one- or two-letter abbreviation used to represent a chemical element. For example, the symbol for oxygen is O, while the symbol for carbon is C. These symbols are derived from the element's name, often in Latin or Greek, making it easier for scientists around the world to communicate about different substances without confusion. Each chemical symbol is unique to its element and is part of the Periodic Table, which organizes all known elements based on their properties. Understanding chemical symbols is essential for studying chemistry, as they are used in chemical formulas to show how elements combine to form compounds, like H2O for water.