Originally posted by Classicalla:
It is somewhat common to capitalize the abbreviations - ie: Na for sodium, K for potassium, Ca for calcium, etc.
Not "somewhat common." Incorrect otherwise. (Ask my former chemistry and general science students about losing points for getting it wrong.
) Element abbreviations are
always either a single capital letter (O, N, C, H) or a capital letter followed by a lowercase letter (Cl, Sn, Au, Br). Element names are not supposed to be capitalized (unless they are the first word of the sentence).
As for colors, all pure sodium is silverish (as are most metals). And pure copper isn't green; the green patina is actually a copper compound called
bronchanite .
It is actually relatively uncommon for a pure element to come in different colors. There are a few.
Phosphorus , which comes in white, red, and black is one of them. We don't capitalize "red phosphorus," though (or the other colors either).
