Element 112 to be Officially Added to the Periodic Table

Posted by Alex in Science & Tech on June 11, 2009 at 1:51 pm


The Periodic Table of Elements is getting a new addition.

Sigurd Hofmann and colleagues at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Germany produced the superheavy 112 back in 1996, and now it’s going to be officially added to the Periodic Table as soon as a name for the element is chosen:

"The new element is approximately 277 times heavier than hydrogen, making it the heaviest element in the periodic table," the scientists at the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research said in a statement late on Wednesday.

The zinc and lead nuclei were fused to form the nucleus of the new element, also known as Ununbium, Latin for 112.

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), confirmed the discovery of 112 by the team led by Sigurd Hofmann at the Helmholtz Center. IUPAC has asked for an official name for the element to be submitted.

John Jost, executive director of IUPAC in North Carolina, told Reuters that creating new elements helped researchers to understand how nuclear power plants and atomic bombs function.

Link

They should hold an Internet poll – the winner will surely be Mootium.


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6 comments to "Element 112 to be Officially Added to the Periodic Table"

  1. Moon
    June 11th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    Isn't it about time they name one after me?? Moonium??

    Seriously. I'm the biggest thing in the neighborhood other than Earth and I get NO.RESPECT. No respect at all! I'm tellin' ya!

  2. Another Tim
    June 11th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    Of course, I am wondering something more important: who will update "The Elements," by Tom Leherer?

  3. free games for kids
    June 12th, 2009 at 5:25 am

    pardon my ignorance but what do we need a superheavy element for again?

  4. Alexander
    June 12th, 2009 at 10:33 am

    Pilumtantium ,because it`s large and heavy
    Second suggestion:
    zircoplumbum , because of its components
    nuclecaminus , because of its large and heavy nucleus
    nuclesaxium
    nuclepilum
    And Sigurnium , because of its creator of course ;)

  5. Caper
    June 13th, 2009 at 12:33 am

    There is a great song about super heavy elements by an Aussie group called 'Great Big Science Gig'. The song ('15 Milliseconds of Fame') doesn't specifically mention this new element, but it does name a few other big elements and loads of fun. I found it at http://www.myspace.com/greatbigsciencegig.

  6. ted
    June 13th, 2009 at 6:38 am

    How about DollyPartonium?


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