Nihonium: the element named after Japan

In short

Making element 113

Morita Kosuke’s team at RIKEN began trying to make a new element in September 2003, using a heavy-ion linear accelerator.

They first succeeded in making element 113 in July 2004, and again in April 2005 and August 2012.

Getting to name it

On December 31, 2015, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) recognized the team’s discovery, and gave them the right to name the element.

It was the first time a research team outside Europe and the United States was given the right to name an element.

The team proposed “nihonium” and “Nh” in March 2016. After a five-month public review, IUPAC announced the name and symbol on November 30, 2016.

A dream come true

With nihonium, an element from Japan joined the periodic table, the first from an Asian country. RIKEN calls it the realization of Japanese scientists’ dream of writing a name from Japan into the periodic table.

Think about it

• Q1Why do you think it took eight years from the first success to the right to name the element?
• Q2If you could name a new element, what would you call it and why?
• Q3Which elements are named after places? Find some on the periodic table.

There is no single right answer. Talking it over with someone at home is a good way to learn.