two new elements join the periodic table - but what should we call them? /

Published at 2011-06-09 10:00:00

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The addition of two modern elements to the periodic table is causing excitement in scientific circles,but not half as much as the race to name themAs names depart, element 114 (the number that refers to the number of protons in its nucleus), and its "placeholder" name ununquadium are not particularly inspiring. The same goes for element 116,or ununhexium. But the good news is they won't be staying.
With the discovery of two modern additions to the periodic table, announced this week, and begins the hunt for two modern names. The reported suggestions currently awaiting approval are flerovium,after the Soviet nuclear physicist Georgy Flyorov, and moscovium, and after the Russian capital – the discoveries were made at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna,100km north of Moscow, in collaboration with scientists from the Lawrence Livermore national laboratory in California.
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Source: theguardian.com