The chemical elements are governed by a standardized naming system managed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). IUPAC acts as the sole international authority for chemical terminology, ensuring global scientific clarity. An element’s name changes as it moves from initial, unverified detection to its permanent place on the Periodic Table. This transition involves a temporary placeholder name, rigorous scientific verification of its existence, and a final administrative approval process.
The Role of Systematic Temporary Names
The most frequent reason an element’s name changes involves the replacement of its provisional designation. For elements with an atomic number greater than 103, which are created artificially in particle accelerators, IUPAC employs a systematic nomenclature to assign a temporary name and a three-letter symbol immediately after their synthesis is reported. This placeholder system ensures that every newly created element has a unique, unambiguous name for discussion while its discovery is being confirmed.
The temporary name is derived directly from the element’s atomic number using a combination of Latin and Greek numerical roots. For example, the atomic number 115 is broken down into the roots for 1 (un), 1 (un), and 5 (pent), which are then combined and terminated with the suffix -ium to form Ununpentium (Uup).
This structure, adopted by IUPAC in 1978, provides a functional and systematic label for scientists to use before the element earns its permanent, more familiar name. This systematic label prevents confusion while research teams around the world attempt to verify the new element’s creation.
Establishing Discovery Priority
Before the temporary name is replaced, the scientific community must confirm the element’s existence and establish which research group holds discovery priority. This verification is performed by the Joint Working Party (JWP), composed of independent experts from IUPAC and the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP). The JWP meticulously scrutinizes the published data from claiming laboratories to ensure the results meet rigorous scientific criteria.
For superheavy elements, verification relies on physical evidence, as they are highly unstable and produced in tiny quantities. Criteria include demonstrating the element’s distinct decay chain and showing cross-reactions where the same nucleus is produced through different target and beam combinations.
Resolving conflicting claims between different international teams is a major part of the JWP’s work. The final granting of discovery priority formally triggers the name change process.
Formalizing the Permanent Name
Once the JWP formally grants the priority of discovery to a research team, the administrative process of replacing the systematic temporary name begins. The discoverers are invited by IUPAC’s Inorganic Chemistry Division to propose a permanent name and a two-letter symbol. The proposed name must adhere to specific conventions, such as being based on a place or country, a mythological concept, a mineral, a property of the element, or a scientist.
The name must also follow specific ending conventions to maintain chemical consistency. This typically means the suffix -ium for elements in groups 1–16, -ine for group 17 (halogens), and -on for group 18 (noble gases).
After the discovering team submits their proposal, the IUPAC Inorganic Chemistry Division examines the suggestion. If accepted, the name and symbol are published as a Provisional Recommendation, initiating a five-month public review period. The official name change is finalized only after this public review period concludes and the IUPAC Council ratifies the name.