It Ain’t Heavy

Element 118 has recently been created by a team of American and Russian scientists. It was made by smashing atoms of Californium (98 protons) with atoms of Calcium (20 protons) to produce an element with 118 protons. This element rests under the line on noble gases on the periodic table so it would be inert like Neon or Argon. It is amazing that work continues on creating new (at least as far as man knows) elements to add to the current list.

No name has yet been chosen for this new element. That will come once the scientific community has had a chance to review all of the data and confirm that the element was indeed created. The confirmation needs to be done because this is the second time that this element has been claimed to be created. A team of scientists made this announcement in 2002 but it was found to be inaccurate. I use that word because I know that scientists would never falsify data for their own ends. Uh-huh.

So maybe this element should be called Hoaxium or Falsium. Since it’s birth was originally announced and found to be premature or rather a lie, it would make sense to name it after its origins. I am sure the discoverers will come up with a much more noble name (ha, ha noble gas) that ends in “on”. Since the nucleus of the atom is so large, it may be reaching the size that does not allow further additions of protons. If that is the case, it will be the last of the line of noble elements. There is an animal that is considered to be proud, fierce, and noble. I think the scientific community should consider calling the element Lion. It is regal, ends in “on”, fits with the two syllable names for the other family members, and also provides a parody of its origin. So here is to element 118.

Icool

Cobb