* Metals: Alchemists were aware of seven metals, but not as elements in our modern understanding:
* Gold (Au): Symbol derived from Latin *aurum* (gold).
* Silver (Ag): Symbol derived from Latin *argentum* (silver).
* Copper (Cu): Symbol derived from Latin *cuprum* (copper).
* Iron (Fe): Symbol derived from Latin *ferrum* (iron).
* Mercury (Hg): Symbol derived from Latin *hydrargyrum* (liquid silver).
* Tin (Sn): Symbol derived from Latin *stannum* (tin).
* Lead (Pb): Symbol derived from Latin *plumbum* (lead).
* Metalloids: The concept of metalloids wasn't developed until much later.
* Nonmetals: Alchemists were aware of some nonmetals, but not as distinct elements:
* Sulfur (S): Used extensively in alchemy, its symbol is derived from its Latin name *sulphur*.
* Carbon (C): While carbon is a fundamental element, alchemists wouldn't have identified it as such. They might have worked with charcoal, but not in a way that recognized its elemental nature.
Important Note: Alchemists didn't discover elements in the way that modern chemists do. They didn't have the tools or understanding of atomic structure. The elements they used were mainly based on their observable properties and uses. The modern element symbols were developed much later by scientists like Jöns Jakob Berzelius.
