Via Jeffrey Harris: What is the only chemical element whose name contains no symbols for chemical elements?
I’ll go so far as to hint that the answer is a very commonly known element, and not, say, Ununpentium.
Update: And look at that: Jeffrey has also posted a Marching Bands to his Web site. “Turning 27” refers both his new age (happy birthday!) and the fact that there are exactly 27 words turning within the bands.
I’d say it’s Unobtanium… It’s capable of just about anything! http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Unobtainium
If one posts answers here:
It’s #82. It’s chemical symbol comes from it’s French name, thus the mismatch.
Got it. Good one Jeffrey. Several elements can be written using only symbols, the longest being Phosphorus [P + Ho (or H+O) + S + P + Ho (or H+O) + Ru + S]. This led me to wonder if any elements can be written using only the symbols of OTHER elements. I found Astatine = As (arsenic) + Ta (tantalum) + Ti (titanium) + Ne (neon) and 4 more, each of which is commonly known.