The four newest elements in the periodic table have finally been named. The official chemistry body approved the proposed names on Nov. 30.
Quartz reported that elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 have been named Nihonium (Nh), Moscovium (Mc), Tennessine (Ts) and Oganesson (Og), respectively. The elements were discovered and confirmed over the past decade.
Now that the new elements have their names, the seventh row of the periodic table is now complete. The approval was done by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC).
According to Science Alert, the elements were confirmed back in January. They were assigned temporary names and symbols: ununtrium (Uut), ununpentium (Uup), ununseptium (Uus), and ununoctium (Uuo).
It was noted that the teams of Russian, American and Japanese researchers behind the discoveries were given the task of naming the elements that they uncovered. They submitted their proposals in June.
"Following a five-month period of public review, the names earlier proposed by the discoverers have been approved by the IUPAC Bureau," the organization announced. "Keeping with tradition, the newly discovered elements have been named after a place or geographical region, or a scientist."
"The ending of the names also reflects and maintains historical and chemical consistency: '-ium' for elements 113 and 115 and as for all new elements of groups 1 to 16, '-ine' for element 117 and belonging to group 17 and '-on' for element 118 element belonging to group 18."
Nihonium is based on "Nihon," a Japanese word for Japan. Moscovium, on the other hand, is named in honor of Russia's capital, Moscow.
Tennessine is named as tribute to the state of Tennessee. The publication noted that the state is known for pioneering research in chemistry. It is also the second U.S. state to be honored on the periodic table.
Oganesson is a tribute to 83-year-old Russian physicist Yuri Oganessian. This is only the second time that a new element was named after a living scientist.
