Question

Why do some element's symbols not match their name? Example: iron = Fe

Answer 1

Answer:

In the spirit of compromise, an element's name might come from one language, and its symbol from another. That's the case with tungsten. Its symbol is W, says Kean, “because the Germans call the element 'wolfram. ' It was a compromise between different countries' claims

Answer 2

The symbol might be in one language and the name another. For example Fe is irons symbol. Fe is ferrum, iron in Latin.