Ekaboron

/ˌɛkəˈbɔːrɑːn/ noun

Definition

A hypothetical element predicted to exist by Mendeleev's periodic table but not yet discovered; the name given to element 164.

Etymology

From 'eka-' (Sanskrit for 'one') + boron. Mendeleev used the prefix 'eka-' to name elements one place below known elements in his table.

Kelly Says

Mendeleev was so confident in his periodic table that he named undiscovered elements before they existed—ekaboron doesn't actually exist yet, but if it did, it would be wildly unstable and radioactive.

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