What are some common things that elements are named after?

Many elements get their names from language and culture. For example, Copper, Silver, Gold, and Iron came from Anglo-Saxon language. The atomic symbols often come from Latin. For example, Au comes from the Latin word aurum for gold. read more

Many elements get their names from language and culture. For example, Copper, Silver, Gold, and Iron came from Anglo-Saxon language. The atomic symbols often come from Latin. read more

Of course, it’s not always so clear what a name’s origins are. There are elements such as Gallium (Ga), which have a twisted naming history. It’s usually assumed that the element was named after Gallia, which is Latin for France. But there may also have been some word play involved. Gallium was isolated as a free metal by Lecoq de Boisbaudran. read more

Element names are not the same in every country. Many countries have adopted the element names that have been agreed upon by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry . According to the IUPAC, "elements can be named after a mythological concept, a mineral, a place or country, a property, or a scientist". read more