Help Name the New Elements

The latest additions to the periodic table of the elements finally have placeholder names. It was earlier this year when elements 114 and 116 were admitted onto the coveted list of elements. At the time they were referred to by their numerical Latin ununquadium and ununhexium.

They might be called flerovium (Fl) and livermorium (Lv), unless the public can come up with better names. Now that the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has accepted these two names, the public gets to weigh in on these heavy elements.

The IUPAC and its physics equivalent have spent years sifting through data and in June decided to admit the two new elements which were jointly created by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley and at the Russian Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna.

But naming the elements has been just about as difficult as confirming their existence. Each lab decided it would get to name one of the elements.

The team at Livermore submitted three names and out of that Livermorium became one contender. Since Dubnium already occupies the 105th element on the periodic table, the Russian team decided to submit their suggested name based on the scientist who started the lab, Georgii Flerov. Thus Flerovium was submitted as the other contender.

For the next five months, the IUPAC will take suggestions from the public, allowing citizens to get in touch with their inner scientist. Anyone can comment on these names or raise objections before the two selected names become official.

Terry Renner, the chemistry union’s executive director says, “It’s a desire to be fair and recognize everyone’s right to contribute as a scientist.”

And silly or serious all suggestions will be considered. To submit your thoughts about the proposed elements Livermorium and Flerovium leave a comment below.

After the five-month public comment period, the inorganic chemistry division will review the comments made and either revise the recommendations or recommend approval by the full IUPAC Council.

Dr. Renner says that barring any naming issues that arise in the meantime the new elements will be confirmed and officially become part of the periodic table next May.