Nomenclature of Elements with Atomic Number Greater than 100

When a new element is discovered, its discoverer proposes a name that must go through IUPAC's approval process, including a period of public comment. Until that name is formally accepted, the new element needs a name to be referred to by -- so IUPAC assigns a temporary systematic name and symbol built directly from the element's atomic number, following four rules.

Rule 1 -- numerical roots. Each digit 0-9 of the atomic number has its own root and one-letter abbreviation (Table 3.8): 0=nil/n, 1=un/u, 2=bi/b, 3=tri/t, 4=quad/q, 5=pent/p, 6=hex/h, 7=sept/s, 8=oct/o, 9=enn/e.

Rule 2 -- assembling the name. The roots for each digit of the atomic number are written one after another in order, and the suffix "-ium" is added at the end.

Rule 3 -- elision. Two small spelling adjustments keep the assembled name pronounceable: the final "n" of "enn" is dropped when it comes immediately before "nil" (enn + nil -> enil), and the final "i" of "bi" or "tri" is dropped when it comes immediately before "ium" (bi + ium -> bium; tri + ium -> trium).

Rule 4 -- the symbol. The element's temporary symbol is formed from the first letter of each numerical root used in the name. …