The Periodic Table Gets Four New Elements

Four new elements have been added to the periodic table, finally filling out the seventh row. The International Union Pure and Applied Chemistry, which governs such decisions, has assigned the four new chemical elements with atomic numbers 113, 115, 117 and 118, respectively.

It is the first time that the table has been updated since 2011, when elements 114 (Flerovium) and 116 (Livermorium) were added. The new elements are termed as ‘superheavy’, a label given to elements with more than 104 protons.

Element 113, whose temporary name is ununtrium (Uut), was discovered at the Riken Institute, Japan.

Element 115 (Uup), known as ununpentium, and element 117, known as ununseptium (Uus), were discovered by researchers from the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russia, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, California, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Tennessee.

Element 118, called ununoctium (Uuo), was discovered by the joint team of Dubna and Livermore researchers.