List of chemical elements named after places

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of the 118 chemical elements, 41 are named after, or have names associated with, places around the world or among astronomical objects. 32 of these have names tied to the Earth and the other 10 have names connected to bodies in the Solar System.

The first table below lists terrestrial locations (excluding the entire Earth taken as a whole) and the last table lists astronomical objects which the chemical elements are named after.[1]

Terrestrial locations

Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as:

More information Location, Element ...
Location Element Symbol Z Coordinates
EuropeEuropiumEu63
Magnesia, a district in GreeceMagnesiumMg1239°25′N 22°50′E
ManganeseMn25
Belur, a city in India (indirectly, via the mineral beryl) Beryllium Be 4 13°9′44.34″N 75°52′4.51″E
India (indirectly, via the Latin indicum meaning indigo) Indium In 49
CyprusCopperCu29
France (ancient name Gaul)FranciumFr87
GalliumGa31
Lutetia, Latin name for ParisLutetiumLu7148.85°N 2.35°E / 48.85; 2.35 (Lutecia (Paris))
GermanyGermaniumGe32
Hesse, a state in GermanyHassiumHs108
Darmstadt, a city in GermanyDarmstadtiumDs11049°50′N 8°34′E
Rhine, a riverRheniumRe75
Strontian, a village in ScotlandStrontiumSr3856°41′N 5°34′W
ScandinaviaScandiumSc21
Hafnia, Latin name for CopenhagenHafniumHf7255°41′N 12°34′E
Thule (perhaps Iceland or Greenland)ThuliumTm69
Holmia, Latin name for StockholmHolmiumHo6759°20′N 18°47′E
Ytterby, a village in Sweden YttriumY39 59°25′35″N 18°21′13″E
TerbiumTb65
ErbiumEr68
YtterbiumYb70
PolandPoloniumPo84
Ruthenia, Latin name for RussiaRutheniumRu44
Moscow, RussiaMoscoviumMc11555°42′N 36°58′E
Dubna, a town in RussiaDubniumDb10556°44′N 37°10′E
Americas[2][3][4] (some sources say the United States specifically)[5][6][7][8]AmericiumAm95
California, a state in the United StatesCaliforniumCf98
Berkeley, California, a city in the United StatesBerkeliumBk9737°52′N 122°16′W
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in the United States
(Also Robert Livermore's name)		LivermoriumLv11637°41′N 121°43′W
Tennessee, a state in the United StatesTennessineTs117
Japan (Nihon)NihoniumNh113
Close

Astronomical objects

More information Location, Element ...
Location Element Symbol Z
SunHeliumHe2
Mercury*Mercury*Hg80
Venus**Phosphorus**P15
MoonSeleniumSe34
Pallas (asteroid)PalladiumPd46
EarthTelluriumTe52
Ceres (dwarf planet)CeriumCe58
UranusUraniumU92
NeptuneNeptuniumNp93
Pluto (dwarf planet)PlutoniumPu94
Close

* - The element mercury was named directly for the deity, with only indirect naming connection to the planet (see etymology of mercury).
** - Phosphorus was the Ancient Greek name for the planet Venus. (see history of phosphorus). 41 elements have names connected to places, with 32 found around the world (not counting the planet as a whole), and 9 among bodies in the Solar System. Countries with elements named for them are colored in, as with US states having this honor. Other locations are indicated with lines if smaller, or are enclosed if larger. Inset at the bottom is a diagram of outer space. The Sun, Moon and half of the planets along with two asteroids and Pluto are the 9 with connections to element names. The other half of the planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) do not have any connection. The connection to Mercury is an indirect one. The connection with beryllium and indium to India is likewise indirect. (Inset graphic is adapted from the Pioneer plaque.)

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI