Teams of researchers from the U.S., Russia, and Japan have finally released the proposed names of the four new elements in the periodic table – the elements 113, 115, 117, and 118.
According to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), any new element must be named after either: a mythological concept or character (including an astronomical object), a mineral, or similar substance, a place or geographical region, a property of the element, or a scientist.
The new proposed names are:
- nihonium (Nh), Z =113
From “Nippon,” or Japan.
- moscovium (Mc), Z = 115
From Moscow, the capital of Russia.
- tennessine (Ts), Z = 117
From Tennessee, a U.S. state.
- oganesson (Og), Z = 118
After Russian physicist, Yuri Oganessian.
These new element names have already been accepted by the IUPAC, and will not have to undergo a five-month period of public review, which expires on 8 November 2016. If no one complains, then the names become official.