[http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2011/11/lookaroundyou.jpg](http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/new-periodic-table-element-names-confirmed-textbook-makers-sigh/)
What's in a name? If you're the general assembly of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, then quite a lot. It's that bunch who have finally rubber-stamped the names of elements Darmstadtium (110), Roentgenium (111) and Copernicum (112) on the [Periodic table](http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/08/periodic-table-welcomes-two-new-ultraheavy-elements-jury-still/). The trio are so named in honor of Darmstadt (where it was first created), Wilhelm Röntgen (discoverer of X-Rays) and Nicolaus Copernicus (explaining the universe since 1533). All three elements are "super-heavy", lab-created substances that rapidly degrade down into less interesting materials -- Copernicium-285 has a relatively long half-life of 29 seconds. The ratification went without a hitch, causing a sigh of relief amongst the textbook makers who have included the elements in the table for quite some time. Although we *were *hoping that element 111 would have to change its name back to the original, nearly unpronounceable unununium.
[Image courtesy of the [BBC](http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/lookaroundyou/series1/periodic.shtml) / Talkback Thames]
New periodic table element names confirmed, textbook makers sigh in relief originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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