Scientists find new things in our world. Some things are new and do not have names. We use special rules to name them. This helps us talk about them. We can give them a real name later. Do you like new things?
Scientists find new things. Sometimes they find a new part of our world. These parts do not have names yet.
We use special rules to name them. These rules use numbers. Each number has a special sound. We join the sounds together. We add a tail to the end. This makes a new name.
These names are just for a short time. They help us talk about the new things. Soon, we find a real name. Then the old name goes away.
This helps us avoid any confusion. It is like a placeholder name. It works until the new part is ready. It is a smart way to work.
Scientists sometimes find new chemical elements. These elements are very new. They do not have official names yet.
To talk about them, we use systematic names. These are temporary names. They follow a set of rules from IUPAC. IUPAC is a group that helps name things in science. These rules help us avoid confusion.
To make a name, we look at the atomic number. The atomic number is a number for each element. We turn each digit into a special root. These roots come from Latin or Greek. We join the roots together. Then we add the suffix -ium to the end. This suffix is a tail for the name.
We also make a systematic symbol. This symbol uses three letters. We take the first letter of each root. This makes sure the symbol is unique.
These names only last a short time. Once the discovery is confirmed, we pick a permanent name. For example, element 118 was once called ununoctium. Now, its real name is oganesson. We use these temporary names for elements beyond 118.
Scientists sometimes find new chemical elements. These elements are often brand new. They do not have official names yet. To talk about them, we use systematic names. These are temporary names. They follow special rules from a group called IUPAC. IUPAC is a group that helps name things in science. These rules help us avoid confusion.
How does a systematic name work? It works by using the atomic number. The atomic number is a number for each element. Each digit in that number becomes a "numerical root." These roots come from Latin or Greek words. You join the roots together into one long word. Then you add the suffix -ium to the end. This suffix is like a tail for the name.
This naming system started in 1978. IUPAC adopted these rules to keep things clear. Before this, naming could be very hard. There were even big arguments called the Transfermium Wars. These were highly political fights over names and symbols. Now, the rules make things much simpler. The rules also use special elision rules. These stop names from looking too odd.
There are many specific facts about these names. Systematic symbols use three letters instead of one or two. This happens by taking the first letter of each root. For example, element 122 is called unbibium. Its symbol is Ubb. Element 118 was once called ununoctium. Now, its permanent name is oganesson. All elements up to 118 now have permanent names.
These temporary names are like placeholders. They stay until a discovery is officially confirmed. A special group called the IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party checks the work. Once they agree, the discoverers suggest a permanent name. Then there is a comment period before it is official. This is just like how we use nicknames before a real name is chosen. We only use systematic names for elements beyond 118 now.
In chemistry, scientists often discover or create brand new chemical elements. These elements are frequently transuranic, meaning they exist beyond the heavy elements found in nature. Because these new elements are often synthesized in a lab, they do not immediately have official names. To prevent confusion, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) uses a temporary naming system. These are called systematic element names. They serve as placeholders until a permanent name is confirmed. This system ensures scientists can discuss new discoveries without any ambiguity.
The systematic naming process is a mathematical way to label elements. It applies to any element with an atomic number (Z) between 101 and 999. To build a name, you must first translate each digit of the atomic number into a specific "numerical root." These roots are derived from Latin or Greek. For example, the digit 1 becomes "un," and the digit 2 becomes "bi." Once you have all the roots, you concatenate them, which means you string them together in order. Finally, you add the suffix "-ium" to the end of the word to complete the name.
There are specific rules to ensure these long names remain readable. This is done through elision rules, which prevent odd-looking letter combinations. For instance, if a root ends in "i" and the suffix is "-ium," the extra "i" is removed. If the digit 2 (bi) or 3 (tri) is followed by the suffix, the name becomes "-bium" or "-trium" instead of "-biium" or "-triium." Another rule handles the number 9 (enn). If the sequence "-90-" occurs, the name uses "-ennil-" rather than repeating the "n" three times. These rules keep the complex names from becoming too messy.
To avoid confusion between different roots, IUPAC uses both Latin and Greek etymologies. They choose specific languages so that two different digits do not start with the same letter. For example, the digit 4 uses the Latin "quad." If the digit 5 used the Latin "quint," it would be too similar to "quad." Instead, the system uses the Greek-derived "pent" for 5. This ensures that every digit in a long systematic name has a distinct starting letter. This careful selection helps scientists identify the atomic number just by looking at the name.
Systematic symbols follow a very strict pattern as well. While most permanent elements use one or two letters, systematic symbols always use three letters. To create the symbol, you take the first letter of each numerical root. The very first letter is always capitalized, while the next two are lowercase. For example, element 122 is unbibium, so its symbol is "Ubb." This three-letter rule is necessary to avoid collisions. If the system used only two letters, many systematic symbols would accidentally match the symbols of elements that already have permanent names.
The history of element naming has not always been smooth. In the past, there were highly political and protracted controversies known as the Transfermium Wars. These were intense disputes over which names and symbols should be used for new elements. To solve these problems, IUPAC adopted the current systematic rules in 1978. This approach was inspired by the successful way organic compounds are named. Before these rules, naming was much more disorganized. Now, the process is predictable and follows a clear scientific standard.
Today, systematic names are only used for elements beyond atomic number 118. All discovered elements up to 118, such as oganesson, now have permanent names. When a new element is synthesized, it keeps its systematic name until the IUPAC/IUPAP Joint Working Party confirms the discovery. Once confirmed, the discoverers are invited to propose a permanent name and symbol. After a formal comment period, the new name becomes official. This replaces the systematic name, such as when ununseptium became tennessine and ununoctium became oganesson.
Where will your curiosity go next?
More to explore
✨ What else?
Related topics you might enjoy
🪜 Step back
Simpler topics to build understanding
What is Nepedia?
A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.