IUPAC names new elements

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has proposed the names for four recently discovered elements.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has proposed the names for four recently discovered elements.

The discoveries of the new elements were verified in December last year by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). This announcement means the seventh row of the periodic table is now complete. The proposed names are:

  • Element 113 โ€“ Nihonium (Nh)
  • Element 115 - Moscovium (Mc)
  • Element 117 - Tennessine (Ts)
  • Element 118 - Oganesson (Og)
Nihonium is named after nihon, one of two ways to say Japan in Japanese. Elements 115 and 117 are named after Moscow and Tennessee, following collaborations between scientists in Moscow and Tennessee. Oganesson was named after Professor Yuri Oganessian for his work on superheavy elements. The professor is credited with three confirmed element discoveries and eleven inventions. Professor Oganessian is only the second person, after Glenn Seaborg, to have an element named after them while still alive

Jan Reedijk, President of the IUPAC Inorganic Chemistry Division said: โ€œIt is a pleasure to see that specific places and names related to the new elements are recognised in these names. It is thrilling to recognise that international collaborations were at the core of these discoveries and these new names also make the discoveries somewhat tangible.โ€

The names will be subject to public review for five months before formal approval by the IUPAC council.

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