There's a new element on the periodic table, but what's its name?

120 meter long accelerator used to generate ion beams. (Photo:G. Otto)

After a decade of rigorous investigation element 112, a “super-heavy” element, was recently officially recognized by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). The group that discovered element 112 was lead by Sigurd Hofmann from the GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. Hofmann also co-discovered elements 107 through 111.

Hofmann has been working on discovering new elements since 1976. To create element 112, he fired zinc ions at lead atoms through a unique 120-meter long heavy-ion linear particle accelerator  in a process called fusion. The nuclei of zinc and lead fused together to become element 112. The new matter begins to decay quickly, and  four atoms of element 112 have been isolated.

Until about 1940, Uranium, which has a standard atomic weight of 238, was considered the heaviest element in the periodic table. For comparison, Hydrogen and Helium have atomic weights of 1 and 4, respectively, making them the lightest elements known. Any element listed on the table after Uranium it is referred to as super-heavy. Element 112 is said to be about 277 times heavier than hydrogen, making it the heaviest officially recognized element in the periodic table.

Unlike most normal people I think about the periodic table every day. It is printed in the side of my coffee cup. Sadly, my table only goes up to element 109, Meitnerium. So realizing that there are chemists searching for new bits of matter was just about as wonderful and exciting to me as it was to find out that there are taxonomists still discovering new species.

So what’s this new element going to be called? For the time being, element 112 has been dubbed ununbium, from the Latin meaning “one-one-two.” Hofmann's team is now considering an official name, which at the moment is being kept secret.
 

Ever curious and every pesky, I wrote to Dr. Hofmann on  June 11, 2009 to ask about the naming process for an element.
 

Dear Dr. Hofmann,
I read the BBC.com article about Element 112. They are collecting names on their website for the new matter. Are you accepting names? Will you hold a contest? Or how do you plan to go about choosing the name? Thank you and congratulations on your recent discovery.

Mary Spiro
“ . . . everything that living things do can be understood in terms of the jigglings and wigglings of atoms.”
RICHARD P. FEYNMAN, 1963

Noting my Feynman quote at the end of my email, Dr. Hofmann replied on June 12, 2009

Dear Mary,
I see that you are a fan of Rich Feynman. This is certainly another excellent candidate name. We will not make a contest, however, good suggestions are always welcome.

With best regards,
Sigurd

Well, Dr. Hofmann, I officially submit that the name Feynmanium be entered into consideration. It’s about time someone named an element after Richard Feynman.

Now, so as not to be misleading, there are several elements hanging around at the bottom of the periodic table that have been claimed but are, as yet, unnamed. Elements 113-118, also retain their Latin-derived temporary monikers because they are not officially recognized by the IUPAC. The last two officially recognized elements named were Darmstadtium (110) and Roentenium (111) back in 2003 and 2004. 
 

So what  do you suggest element 112 should be called? I will forward the most intriguing ideas to Dr. Hofmann.

Experimental chemists take note: if you really want to hear a very technical lecture about how new elements are discovered, you can listen to a lecture from Dr. Hofmann, complete with slides only you will understand, from this site.
 

All others, play around with this Dynamic Periodic Table