Element Names and Their Origins

Who is responsible for approving the official names of elements?

Elements with atomic numbers 1-10 are typically named based on their:

What is the basis for naming elements with atomic numbers 11-30?

How are elements with atomic numbers 104 and above named?

What is the basis for naming elements like Oxygen and Iodine?

Who are some elements named after?

Element Names

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is responsible for approving the official names of elements.
Elements are named based on their properties, discovery, or the scientist who discovered them.
Some elements are named after:
- Mythological figures (e.g., Titanium, Tantalum)
- Places (e.g., Francium, Germanium)
- Properties (e.g., Oxygen, Iodine)
- Scientists (e.g., Curium, Rutherfordium)
Elements with atomic numbers 1-10 have Latin roots:
- Hydrogen (hydrogenium)
- Helium (helium)
- Lithium (lithium)
- ...and so on
Elements with atomic numbers 11-30 have Latin roots with Greek prefixes:
- Sodium (natrium)
- Magnesium (magnesium)
- Aluminum (aluminium)
- ...and so on
Elements with atomic numbers 31-103 have a combination of Latin and Greek roots:
- Germanium (germanium)
- Arsenic (arsenicum)
- Selenium (selenium)
- ...and so on
Elements with atomic numbers 104 and above have temporary names based on their atomic number:
- Unnilquadium (104)
- Unnilpentium (105)
- ...and so on

Learn about the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) guidelines for naming elements, including their origins, properties, and discoverers. Explore the Latin and Greek roots of element names and how they are categorized.