Science, Tech, Math › Science What Letter Is Not Found on the Periodic Table? The One Letter Not Found in Element Names or Symbols Share Flipboard Email Print Lawrence Lawry / Getty Images Science Chemistry Periodic Table Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Facebook Twitter Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on December 01, 2019 The letter "J" is the only one not found on the periodic table. In some countries (e.g., Norway, Poland, Sweden, Serbia, Croatia), the element iodine is known by the name jod. However, the periodic table still uses the IUPAC symbol I for the element. About The Element Ununtrium There was speculation the newly discovered element 113 (ununtrium), might get a permanent name starting with a J and element symbol J. Element 113 was discovered by the RIKEN collaboration team in Japan. However, the researchers went with the element name nihonium, based on the Japanese name for their country, Nihon koku. The Letter Q Note that the letter "Q" does not appear in any official element names. Temporary element names, such as ununquadium, contain this letter. However, no element name starts with Q and no official element name contains this letter. Once the final four elements on the present periodic table get official names, there will be no Q on the periodic table. The extended periodic table, which includes undiscovered superheavy elements (atomic numbers greater than 118), would still contain the letter Q in temporary element names. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Letter Is Not Found on the Periodic Table?" ThoughtCo, Aug. 25, 2020, thoughtco.com/what-letter-is-not-found-in-the-periodic-table-606637. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 25). What Letter Is Not Found on the Periodic Table? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/what-letter-is-not-found-in-the-periodic-table-606637 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "What Letter Is Not Found on the Periodic Table?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-letter-is-not-found-in-the-periodic-table-606637 (accessed May 29, 2023). copy citation Featured Video