Slashdot Mirror


Two Elements Added To Periodic Table

smitty777 writes "Two new elements have been added to the periodic table of the elements. Elements 114 and 116 are the weightiest known, with atomic weights of 289 and 292 respectively. The discoverers are proposing flerovium and moscovium as names for these two new discoveries. There are also arguments being made to add in three more as well: 113, 115 and 118." We've noted element 114 in the past, but this is more official.

12 of 138 comments (clear)

  1. Element 115 by jd · · Score: 3, Informative

    Should be called Lazarium. After all, it's safe to say nobody has an earlier claim of discovery. :) (Hey, I said nothing about any actual discovery, just a claim of one.)

    --
    It's a small world and it smells funny; I'd buy another if it wasn't for the money; Take back what I paid (SoM)
    1. Re:Element 115 by calmofthestorm · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No it should be called elerium.

      --
      93rd rule of Slashdot: No matter how obvious my sarcasm is, my comment will be taken seriously by someone.
    2. Re:Element 115 by fotoflojoe · · Score: 3, Funny

      Upsidaisyum

  2. How about by ThatsNotPudding · · Score: 3, Funny

    Farnsworthium?
    "Good news, everyone!"

  3. I'll be most disappointed if.... by Brannoncyll · · Score: 3, Interesting

    element 115 is not given the name Elerium, in honour of the fictional element used to power the spacecraft in the XCOM series. Ununpentium is dull and doesn't really roll off the tongue!

  4. How close are we to the island of stability? by JoshuaZ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The real issue isn't these elements which are unstable and not that interesting. The real question is whether the island of stability exists and how close we are to it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_stability If current theories are correct then there may be a section of elements with atomic numbers near 120 that are much more stable. They might even be stable enough to be used for practical purposes if we can synthesize them on a large scale. Depending on the exact model, they might have half-lives as short as a few seconds (which for elements in this range is comparatively large but not large enough to use for any practical purposes) or it might be as much as 100,000 years (there are more optimistic estimates but they seem extremely unlikely). For comparison, tritium has a half-life of about 12 years and is used in a lot of practical applications. So, if the island exists and we find good ways to synthesize these elements, then we might get some very interesting chemistry.

    1. Re:How close are we to the island of stability? by circletimessquare · · Score: 3, Funny

      and even more importantly, how does this magic element relate to mining operations on pandora, and is it the stuff that makes 10 foot tall blue chicks hot?

      --
      intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  5. Re:Weightiest by Lord+Jester · · Score: 4, Informative

    Weightiest is a real word and the use is valid.

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/weightiest (2b)

  6. Re:Weightiest by kimvette · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I agree, and what's more, the use of the term "weightiest" would be perfectly cromulent had we been discussing weight. However massiest would probably have been even cromulenter.

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  7. better names by circletimessquare · · Score: 3, Informative

    almost obligatory whenever these kinds of stories pop up on slashdot:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_elements,_materials,_isotopes_and_atomic_particles

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
  8. Re:Weightiest by X0563511 · · Score: 4, Funny

    That only works if you (for some reason) insist on using the currency-based measure for gold, but not on all the other items.

    That's retarded. One of the first things you do is ensure your units are consistent.

    --
    For large sets, this will be our guide even unto death, for the LORD will work for each type of data it is applied to...
  9. Re:Huh by RoverDaddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    What happened to that un uh um oo ee oo ah ah standardized naming system?

    They gave up when they realized it would have to be extended to include ting tang walla walla bing bang.

    --
    RETURN without GOSUB in line 1050