Formerly proposed name for the element now called chromium; named after King George III of England.
From George (King George III) + the Latin suffix -ium (used for elements). In the 18th century, the French scientist Louis-Nicolas Vauquelin discovered and named the element 'chromium,' but British scientists proposed 'georgium' as an alternative name honoring their king.
British scientists wanted to call chromium 'georgium' to honor King George III, but the French-derived name 'chromium' (for its color-changing properties) won out instead! It's a funny reminder that element names could have been completely different if politics had gone another way.
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