For the same reason that gold is Au (aurum) and lead is Pb (plumbum). Those crazy Greeks (not you, Anna
) thought potassium was kalium. (Well, kind of -- the element wasn't known in elemental form until 1807. But the name kalium is Latin.)
A ha! I knew kalium was Latin. I'm glad you threw that last thought in; I would have driven myself crazy connecting short-circuited wires in my head and thinking kalium was aGreek word. And ps, shh, Rivka LOL! I shouldn't have to think about Chemistry for another 10 days!
JD
New game: how many times does it take Jen to edit posts after midnight so she'll make some sense?
