Every so often , we ’ll reissue something interesting from our sis publication , The Week . This is one of those times .
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Two new element are join old alchemy - socio-economic class favourite on the periodic tabular array . The latest inductee — number 114 , flerovium ( Fl ) , and figure 116 , livermorium ( Lv ) — were revealed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and are now undefendable forpublic discussion . Here , a abbreviated pathfinder to the new submissions :
What are they, exactly?
number 114 and 116 will posture " down in the downcast - veracious corner of the periodical table . " In real lifespan , both elements are " so large and unstable " that they can only be created in a science lab , says Jennifer Welsh atLive Science . Known as " super expectant " or " Transuranium " elements , " they accrue apart into other elements very quickly , " so scientists have n’t been able to hit the books their potential applications quite yet . The element were first synthesized over 10 years ago , but it was only recently — and through repeat experimentation — that their existence was finally confirmed . phone number 115 is still awaiting validation .
How did the new elements get their names?
mention an element is an " heavy " mental process , say Kenneth Chang atThe New York Times . The current names are simply marriage proposal put forth by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry , " the scientific body that is the custodian of the leaning of elements . " The union has " finicky rule about what it considers an acceptable name . " For case , if a previously proposed constituent ’s name is refuse , that name can not be aim for any " subsequent element discoveries . "
So what about Fl and Lv?
Livermorium was named after the city of Livermore , Calif. , where it was make . And Flerovium was named after Georgi N. Flerov , the founder of the Russian research institute where it was discovered . The public is invite to hash out what to name both constituent , so regard the current public figure " placeholders,“says Alan Boyle atMSNBC . " The epithet still have to go through after a five - month public comment period , " and are sic to be written into the board officially in May . " If you do not like them , " says Chang , " now is the time to voice your objection . "
