Tennessine is element number 117, with the symbol Ts. Its name comes from the American state of Tennessee.
Atomic number 117(293)
TsTennessineテネシン (teneshin)
Symbol
Ts
Atomic weight
(293)
Place in the table
Period 7 · Group 17
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)”.
An American state’s name
Tennessine was found in 2010, made by smashing calcium (number 20) into berkelium (number 97). The discovery was confirmed in 2015, and the name was decided in 2016.
When tennessine gives off an alpha ray, it changes into element 115, moscovium.
Where it sits on the table
Tennessine is in the seventh row of Group 17, at the bottom of the column with fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine.
Think about it
Q1What is 97 + 20?
Q2The target, berkelium, is also named after an American city, Berkeley. How many elements with American place names can you name?
Q3Can you name the Group 17 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? — Tennessine is one of the four elements named in November 2016. The other three are nihonium, moscovium and oganesson.