For the first time in four years, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) has approved the introduction of new elements. The periodic table of the chemical elements is growing by four elements. These are the elements with atomic numbers 113, 115, 117, and 118. They complete the seventh row of the periodic table.
The discoverers from Japan, Russia, and the USA will now be invited to suggest permanent names and symbols. So far, the elements have temporary working names and symbols: Ununtrium (113, symbol UUT), Ununpentium (115 Uup) Ununseptium (117, Uus) and Ununoctium (118 Uuo). Element 113 will be the first element to be named in Asia – its discoverers are sitting at Riken Institute in Japan.
New elements can be named after a mythological concept, a place or country, a mineral, a property, or a scientist. The name and two-letter symbol has to be accepted by the responsible IUPAC division. After a public review of five months, the IUPAC council will make a final decision.
- Discovery and Assignment of Elements with Atomic Numbers 113, 115, 117 and 118,
IUPAC 30. Dec 2015.
Also of Interest
- Elements 114 And 116 Named,
ChemistryViews.org 2011. - Element 115 Exists,
ChemistryViews.org 2013. - Poem: Chemical Poems: Ununseptium,
Mario Markus,
ChemistryViews 2015.
https://doi.org/10.1002/chemv.201400124
