Final answer:
The symbols for elements with long names such as beryllium phosphorus, germanium, and dermstatdium are derived from the common name of the element or an abbreviation of the name in another language. Most symbols have one or two letters, but three-letter symbols have been used for some elements with atomic numbers greater than 112.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symbols for elements with long names such as beryllium phosphorus, germanium, and dermstatdium are derived from the common name of the element or an abbreviation of the name in another language.
For example, the symbol for beryllium is Be, the symbol for phosphorus is P, the symbol for germanium is Ge, and there is no known element called dermstatdium.
Most symbols have one or two letters, but three-letter symbols have been used for some elements with atomic numbers greater than 112.