Systematic naming of elements
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) uses a systematic naming system for new chemical elements. This system is used on a temporary basis until agreement is reached on a permanent name. In the case of elements 104 and above, it has been a protracted and highly political process (see controversy over the naming of the elements).
This is how it works in English:
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 0 | nil |
| 1 | One |
| 2 | bi |
| 3 | Tri |
| 4 | quad |
| 5 | pent |
| 6 | Hex |
| 7 | sept |
| 8 | oct |
| 9 | enn |
and "ium" added at the end. It will put "um" instead of "ium" if there are two íes close to each other, for example, the provisional name of element #112 (copernicium) was ununbi + ium = ununbium, not *ununbiium.
In Spanish, the suffixes are "io" and "or". Also, you write "m" instead of "n" before "b" and "p". For example, element #115 (moscovium) was the unumpentio.
Examples:
- Element 119 1(un) + 1(un) + 9(enn) + ium = Ununennium. (Uue)
- Element 123 1(un) + 2(bi) + 3(tri) + ium = Unbitrium. (Ubt)
- Element 208 2(bi) + 0(nil) + 8(oct) + ium = Biniloctium. (Bno)
- Element 457 4(quad) + 5(pent) + 7(sept) + ium = Quadpentseptium. (Qps)
- Element 986 9(enn) + 8(oct) + 6(hex) + ium = Ennocthexium. (Eoh)
These elements are very unstable and sometimes only live for thousandths of a second, but some, like Tc (Technetium), which is a synthetic element, can live for billions of years.