Four Newly Discovered Elements Receive Names (theverge.com)

Press2ToContinue quotes a report from The Verge: The proposed names for recently discovered superheavy elements are: Nihonium and symbol Nh, for the element 113; Moscovium and symbol Mc, for the element 115; Tennessine and symbol Ts, for the element 117; Oganesson and symbol Og, for the element 118. This isn't finalized. Not sure I even like some of these, and maybe you feel the same way. Above are the proposed names that will substitute for the current placeholders (e.g., ununpentium, ununseptium). Nilhonium, Moscovium, and Tennesine are all named for places; Oganessen is named for the Russian physicist Yuri Oganessian. But we have until November to lobby for other names. Here's a chance to go down in history and name an element on the periodic table. How about naming one Elementy McElementface?

Comments

Re:god no

[Anne Thwacks]

While there are exceptions, the general rule in English is that names should not be in use in the language already. The simplest way to achieve this is to use a word that belongs in another language - particularly if this provides some contextual guidance as to its meaning. Real or fake Greek words are associated with the concept of science.

We associated the idea of descriptive names with other cultures, and do not call our daughters things like "cloud-flower" (although we do use Fern, Ivy, April, etc).

Re:Americans will spell it Moscovum

[Rei]

The British English term for reducing a substance with lithium is a lithiothermic reaction.
The British English term for reducing a substance with magnesium is a magnesiothermic reaction.
The British English term for reducing a substance with sodium is a sodiothermic reaction.
The British English term for reducing a substance with calcium is a calciothermic reaction.
The British English term for reducing a substance with aluminum is a aluminothermic reaction. No "i".

At least be consistent with your ahistorical, irregular naming conventions.