Each element is a fundamental substance with a unique atomic number, defining its identity. To ensure clear communication, each is assigned a specific, internationally recognized name. This naming process adheres to a structured system, reflecting its discovery, properties, or historical context.
The Official Naming Process
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is the globally recognized authority for chemical nomenclature. When a new element is synthesized or discovered and confirmed, discoverers propose a name. Before official approval, new elements are often referred to by provisional names based on their atomic number. For example, element 118 was provisionally known as Ununoctium before being officially named Oganesson.
Proposed names undergo a multi-step review within IUPAC. Criteria include uniqueness, historical appropriateness, and ensuring the name is not trivial, offensive, or commercial. After internal review, there is a public comment period for broader scientific feedback. This period typically lasts several months before a name is ratified and added to the periodic table, ensuring global consensus.
Sources of Element Names
Element names originate from a diverse array of sources, often reflecting the circumstances of their discovery or the individuals and places associated with them. Many elements are named in honor of renowned scientists who made significant contributions. For instance, Einsteinium (Es) commemorates the physicist Albert Einstein. Mendelevium (Md) acknowledges Dmitri Mendeleev, developer of the periodic table. Curium (Cm) pays tribute to Marie and Pierre Curie, pioneers in radioactivity.
Geographical locations also serve as a common source, often referencing the location of discovery or synthesis. Californium (Cf) is named after California, where it was produced. Germanium (Ge) takes its name from Germany, its discoverer’s home country. Americium (Am) reflects its discovery in the Americas.
Some elements derive names from mythological figures or ancient concepts. Thorium (Th) is named after Thor, the Norse god of thunder. Vanadium (V) takes its name from Vanadis, an Old Norse name for the Scandinavian goddess Freyja. Promethium (Pm) is named after the Greek Titan Prometheus.
Characteristic properties, such as its color or reactivity, can also inspire its name. Chlorine (Cl) comes from the Greek word “chloros,” meaning “pale green,” describing the gas’s distinctive color. Hydrogen (H) originates from the Greek words “hydro genes,” meaning “water-forming,” as it produces water when burned in air. Oxygen (O) is derived from “oxys genes,” meaning “acid-forming.”
Astronomical bodies have lent their names to several elements. Helium (He) is named after “helios,” the Greek word for the sun, where its spectral line was first observed. Selenium (Se) takes its name from “selene,” the Greek word for the moon. Other origins include elements named after minerals or discovery circumstances, such as Scandium (Sc) from Scandinavia.