Moscovium is element number 115, with the symbol Mc. Its name comes from Moscow, a region of Russia.
Atomic number 115(289)
McMoscoviumモスコビウム (mosukobiumu)
Symbol
Mc
Atomic weight
(289)
Place in the table
Period 7 · Group 15
The number in parentheses is not an atomic weight. It is the mass number of one radioactive isotope of the element.
Atomic weight from the Chemical Society of Japan, “Table of Standard Atomic Weights with Four Significant Figures (2026)”.
Born from element 117
Moscovium was found when element 117, tennessine, gave off an alpha ray and changed. The team smashed calcium (number 20) into berkelium (number 97) to make tennessine, and that tennessine became moscovium.
It was found in 2010. The discovery was confirmed in 2015, and in November 2016 its name became official, together with nihonium, tennessine and oganesson.
Where it sits on the table
Moscovium is in the seventh row of Group 15, at the bottom of the column with nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony and bismuth.
Think about it
Q1What is 97 + 20? If an alpha ray (the nucleus of helium, number 2) comes out, what number do you get?
Q2Can you name the four elements named in 2016?
Q3Can you name the Group 15 elements from the top?
There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.
Did you know? — Elements with Russian place names: dubnium (the city of Dubna) and moscovium (Moscow). Ruthenium is named after an old name for Russia.