Element Name Origin Flashcards
Hydrogen
From the Greek for ‘water-forming’
Helium
From the Greek for ‘sun’
Lithium
From the Greek for ‘stone’
Beryllium
From the name for a mineral whose varieties include emerald and aquamarine
Boron
From the name for a soft white, soluble mineral first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and imported via the Silk Road
From the Greek for ‘water-forming’
Hydrogen
From the Greek for ‘sun’
Helium
From the Greek for ‘stone’
Lithium
From the name for a mineral whose varieties include emerald and aquamarine
Beryllium
From the name for a soft white, soluble mineral first discovered in dry lake beds in Tibet and imported via the Silk Road
Boron
Carbon
From the Latin for ‘coal’
From the Latin for ‘coal’
Carbon
Nitrogen
From the Greek for ‘saltpeter-forming’
From the Greek for ‘saltpeter-forming’
Nitrogen
Oxygen
From the Greek for ‘acid-forming’
From the Greek for ‘acid-forming’
Oxygen
Fluorine
From the Latin for ‘to flow’
From the Latin for ‘to flow’
Fluorine
Neon
From the Greek for ‘new’
From the Greek for ‘new’
Neon
Sodium
From the Arabic for ‘headache’ as one of its compounds was once widely used as a treatment for headaches
From the Arabic for ‘headache’ as one of its compounds was once widely used as a treatment for headaches
Sodium
Magnesium
From the name of a district in Thessaly in Greece
From the name of a district in Thessaly in Greece
Magnesium
Aluminum
From the Latin for ‘bitter salt’
From the Latin for ‘bitter salt’
Aluminum
Silicon
From the Latin for ‘flint’
From the Latin for ‘flint’
Silicon
Phosphorus
From the Greek for ‘light-bearing’
From the Greek for ‘light-bearing’
Phosphorus
Sulfur
From the Latin for ‘brimstone’
From the Latin for ‘brimstone’
Sulfur
Chlorine
From the Greek for ‘greenish yellow’
From the Greek for ‘greenish yellow’
Chlorine
Argon
From the Greek for ‘idle’
From the Greek for ‘idle’
Argon
Potassium
From the Latin for the mined and manufactured (from plant ashes) salts that contained the element
From the Latin for the mined and manufactured (from plant ashes) salts that contained the element
Potassium
Calcium
From the Latin for ‘lime’
From the Latin for ‘lime’
Calcium
Scandium
From an early name used for the Scandinavian Peninsula by the first cartographers
From an early name used for the Scandinavian Peninsula by the first cartographers
Scandium
Titanium
From the name for the sons of the Earth goddess of Greek mythology
From the name for the sons of the Earth goddess of Greek mythology
Titanium
Vanadium
From an Old Norse name for the Scandinavian goddess Freyja
From an Old Norse name for the Scandinavian goddess Freyja
Vanadium
Chromium
From the Greek for ‘colour’
From the Greek for ‘colour’
Chromium
Manganese
From the Latin for ‘magnet’
From the Latin for ‘magnet’
Manganese
Iron
From the Proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European for ‘strong’
From the Proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European for ‘strong’
Iron
Cobalt
From the German for ‘goblin’
From the German for ‘goblin’
Cobalt
Nickel
From the name for a mischievous sprite of German miner mythology
From the name for a mischievous sprite of German miner mythology
Nickel
Copper
From the English, ultimately from the Greek for ‘Cyprus’
From the English, ultimately from the Greek for ‘Cyprus’
Copper
Zinc
Most likely from the German for ‘prong’ or ‘tooth’
Most likely from the German for ‘prong’ or ‘tooth’
Zinc
Gallium
From the Latin name for France
From the Latin name for France
Gallium
Germanium
From the Latin name for Germany
From the Latin name for Germany
Germanium
Arsenic
From the French but ultimately from the Old Iranian for ‘golden’
From the French but ultimately from the Old Iranian for ‘golden’
Arsenic
Selenium
From the Greek for ‘moon’
From the Greek for ‘moon’
Selenium
Bromine
From the Greek for ‘stench’
From the Greek for ‘stench’
Bromine
Krypton
From the Greek for ‘hidden’
From the Greek for ‘hidden’
Krypton
Rubidium
From the Latin for ‘deep red’
From the Latin for ‘deep red’
Rubidium
Strontium
From the name of a village in Scotland
From the name of a village in Scotland
Strontium
Yttrium
From the name of a village in Sweden
From the name of a village in Sweden (Element 39)
Yttrium (from ‘Ytterby’)
Zirconium
From the name of a silicate mineral that is sometimes used as a substitute for diamond
From the name of a silicate mineral that is sometimes used as a substitute for diamond
Zirconium
Niobium
From the name of the daughter of king Tantalus from Greek mythology
From the name of the daughter of king Tantalus from Greek mythology
Niobium
Molybdenum
From the Greek for ‘piece of lead’
From the Greek for ‘piece of lead’
Molybdenum
Technetium
From the Greek for ‘artificial’
From the Greek for ‘artificial’
Technetium
Ruthenium
From the medieval Latin for Eastern Slavic lands
From the medieval Latin for Eastern Slavic lands
Ruthenium
Rhodium
From the Greek for ‘rose-coloured’
From the Greek for ‘rose-coloured’
Rhodium
Palladium
From the name of an asteroid, considered a planet at the time
From the name of an asteroid, considered a planet at the time
Palladium
Silver
From the proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately of unknown origin but possibly from the Akkadian for ‘refined’
From the proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately of unknown origin but possibly from the Akkadian for ‘refined’
Silver
Cadmium
From the name of the founder and first king of Thebes
From the name of the founder and first king of Thebes
Cadmium
Indium
From the Latin for ‘indigo’ (colour found in its spectrum)
From the Latin for ‘indigo’ (colour found in its spectrum)
Indium
Tin
From the proto-Germanic name for the material, not found in Indo-European
From the proto-Germanic name for the material, not found in Indo-European
Tin
Antimony
Of unknown origin but possibility from the Greek for ‘against’ and ‘alone’
Of unknown origin but possibility from the Greek for ‘against’ and ‘alone’
Antimony
Tellurium
From the Latin for ‘the ground, earth’
From the Latin for ‘the ground, earth’
Tellurium
Iodine
From the Greek for ‘violet’
From the Greek for ‘violet’
Iodine
Xenon
From the Greek for ‘strange’
From the Greek for ‘strange’
Xenon
Caesium
From the Latin for ‘sky-blue’
From the Latin for ‘sky-blue’
Caesium
Barium
From the Greek for ‘heavy’
From the Greek for ‘heavy’
Barium
Lanthanum
From the Greek for ‘to lie hidden’
From the Greek for ‘to lie hidden’
Lanthanum
Cerium
From the name for a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, considered a planet at the time
From the name for a dwarf planet in the asteroid belt, considered a planet at the time
Cerium
Praseodymium
From the Greek for ‘green twin’
From the Greek for ‘green twin’
Praseodymium
Neodymium
From the Greek for ‘new twin’
From the Greek for ‘new twin’
Neodymium
Promethium
From the name of the Titan of Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity
From the name of the Titan of Greek mythology who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity
Promethium
Samarium
From the name of a mineral named after a Russian mine official
From the name of a mineral named after a Russian mine official
Samarium
Europium
From the name of a continent
From the name of a continent
Europium
Gadolinium
From the name of a mineral named after a Finnish chemist, physicist and mineralogist
From the name of a mineral named after a Finnish chemist, physicist and mineralogist
Gadolinium
Terbium
From the name of a village in Sweden
From the name of a village in Sweden (Element 65)
Terbium (from ‘Ytterby’)
Dysprosium
From the Greek for ‘hard to get’
From the Greek for ‘hard to get’
Dysprosium
Holmium
From the Latin name for discoverer Per Teodor Cleve’s home town
From the Latin name for discoverer Per Teodor Cleve’s home town
Holmium (from ‘Stockholm’)
Erbium
From the name of a village in Sweden
From the name of a village in Sweden (Element 68)
Erbium (from ‘Ytterby’)
Thulium
From the ancient name for an unclear northern location
From the ancient name for an unclear northern location
Thulium (from ‘Thule’)
Ytterbium
From the name of a village in Sweden
From the name of a village in Sweden (Element 70)
Ytterbium (from ‘Ytterby’)
Lutetium
From the Latin name for Paris
From the Latin name for Paris
Lutetium
Hafnium
From the Latin name for the Danish city where it was discovered
From the Latin name for the Danish city where it was discovered
Hafnium (from ‘Copenhagen’)
Tantalum
From the name of a Greek mythological king famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus
From the name of a Greek mythological king famous for his eternal punishment in Tartarus
Tantalum
Tungsten
From the Swedish for ‘heavy stone’
From the Swedish for ‘heavy stone’
Tungsten
Rhenium
From the Latin name for a major European river
From the Latin name for a major European river
Rhenium (from ‘Rhine’)
Osmium
From the Greek for ‘smell’
From the Greek for ‘smell’
Osmium
Iridium
From the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow
From the name for the Greek goddess of the rainbow
Iridium
Platinum
From the Spanish for ‘little silver’
From the Spanish for ‘little silver’
Platinum
Gold
From Proto-Germanic, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European for ‘shine’
From Proto-Germanic, ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European for ‘shine’
Gold
Mercury
From the name of a Roman god of commerce and communication, known for his speed
From the name of a Roman god of commerce and communication, known for his speed
Mercury
Thallium
From the Greek for ‘green shoot or twig’
From the Greek for ‘green shoot or twig’
Thallium
Lead
From the Proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately of unknown origin
From the Proto-Germanic name for the material, ultimately of unknown origin
Lead
Bismuth
From the German for ‘white mass’
From the German for ‘white mass’
Bismuth
Polonium
From the Latin name for the home country of Marie Curie
From the Latin name for the home country of Marie Curie
Polonium (from ‘Poland’)
Astatine
From the Greek for ‘unstable’
From the Greek for ‘unstable’
Astatine
Radon
From the name of the element of which it is the immediate decay product
From the name of the element of which it is the immediate decay product
Radon (from ‘radium’)
Francium
From the name for the European country where it was discovered
From the name for the European country where it was discovered
Francium (from ‘France’)
Radium
From the Latin for ‘ray’
From the Latin for ‘ray’
Radium
Actinium
From the Greek for ‘ray’
From the Greek for ‘ray’
Actinium
Thorium
From the name of the Scandinavian god of thunder
From the name of the Scandinavian god of thunder
Thorium (from ‘Thor’)
Protactinium
From the Greek for ‘first, before’ + the name of the element produced by its the radioactive decay
From the Greek for ‘first, before’ + the name of the element produced by its the radioactive decay
Protactinium (from ‘actinium’)
Uranium
From the name of the seventh planet in the Solar System
From the name of the seventh planet in the Solar System
Uranium
From the name of the eighth planet in the Solar System
Neptunium
Neptunium
From the name of the eighth planet in the Solar System
Plutonium
From the name of the dwarf planet that was considered the ninth planet in the Solar System at the time
From the name of the dwarf planet that was considered the ninth planet in the Solar System at the time
Plutonium
Americium
From the name of the continent where the element was first synthesised
From the name of the continent where the element was first synthesised
Americium (from ‘America’)
Curium
From the name of a family of French physicists and chemists
From the name of a family of French physicists and chemists
Curium (from ‘Curie’)
Berkelium
From the name of the city in California where the element was first synthesized
From the name of the city in California where the element was first synthesized
Berkelium (from ‘Berkeley’)
Californium
From the name of the U.S. state where the element was first synthesised
From the name of the U.S. state where the element was first synthesised
Californium (from ‘California’)
Einsteinium
From the name of the German physicist known for, among other things, his mass-energy equivalence equation
From the name of the German physicist known for, among other things, his mass-energy equivalence equation
Einsteinium (from ‘Einstein’)
Fermium
From the name of an Italian physicist
From the name of an Italian physicist
Fermium (from ‘Fermi’)
Mendelevium
From the name of the Russian chemist and inventor who proposed the periodic table
From the name of the Russian chemist and inventor who proposed the periodic table
Mendelevium (from ‘Mendelev’)
Nobelium
From the name of a Swedish chemist and engineer
From the name of a Swedish chemist and engineer
Nobelium (from ‘Nobel’)
Lawrencium
From the name of an American physicist and inventor of the cyclotron
From the name of an American physicist and inventor of the cyclotron
Lawrencium (from ‘Lawrence’)
Rutherfordium
From the name of the physicist from New Zealand who is considered the founder of nuclear physics
From the name of the physicist from New Zealand who is considered the founder of nuclear physics
Rutherfordium (from ‘Rutherford’)
Dubnium
From the name of the town in Russia where the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is located
From the name of the town in Russia where the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research is located
Dubnium (from ‘Dubna’)
Seaborgium
From the name of an American chemist involved in the discovery of 10 transuranium elements
From the name of an American chemist involved in the discovery of 10 transuranium elements
Seaborgium (from ‘Seaborg’)
Bohrium
From the name of a Danish physicist
From the name of a Danish physicist
Bohrium (from ‘Bohr’)
Hassium
From the Latin name for a state in Germany
From the Latin name for a state in Germany
Hassium (from ‘Hesse’)
Meitnerium
From the name of an Austrian physicist, one of those who first discovered nuclear fission
From the name of an Austrian physicist, one of those who first discovered nuclear fission
Meitnerium (from ‘Meitner’)
Darmstadtium
From the name of the city in Germany where the element was first synthesised
From the name of the city in Germany where the element was first synthesised
Darmstadtium (from ‘Darmstadt’)
Roentgenium
From the name of the German physicist who discovered radioactivity
From the name of the German physicist who discovered radioactivity
Roentgenium (from ‘Roentgen’)
Copernicium
From the name of a Polish astronomer
From the name of a Polish astronomer
Copernicium (from ‘Copernicius’)
Nihonium
From the Japanese name Japan (where the element was first synthesised)
From the Japanese name for Japan (where the element was first synthesised)
Nihonium
Flerovium
From the name of the laboratory where the element was synthesised, ultimately named after a Russian physicist
From the name of the laboratory where the element was synthesised, ultimately named after a Russian physicist
Flerovium
Moscovium
From the name for the Russia city where the element was first synthesised
From the name for the Russia city where the element was first synthesised
Moscovium (from ‘Moscow’)
Livermorium
From the name for the Californian laboratory which collaborated on its synthesis, ultimately named for the town
From the name for the Californian laboratory which collaborated on its synthesis, ultimately named for the town
Livermorium (from ‘Livermore’)
Tennessine
From the name of a southern U.S. state
From the name of a southern U.S. state
Tennessine (from ‘Tennessee’)
Oganesson
From the name of a Russian physicist who is one of the world’s leading researcher on superheavy elements
From the name of a Russian physicist who is one of the world’s leading researcher on superheavy elements
Oganesson (from ‘Oganessian’)
