Hahnium

/ˈhɑːniəm/ noun

Definition

a synthetic chemical element with atomic number 105, originally named after Otto Hahn but now officially named dubnium.

Etymology

Named in 1970 to honor Otto Hahn (1879-1968), German nuclear chemist who discovered nuclear fission; the name was later changed to dubnium by international agreement in 1997.

Kelly Says

This element has an identity crisis—it was briefly called hahnium to honor Hahn's discovery of fission, but international chemistry committees renamed it dubnium after a Soviet city, showing how even periodic table names can be contested!

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