New element name proposed

Known as Element 112 for the 13 years since its discovery, the name “Copernicium” has been proposed for inclusion in the periodic table. Named after the scientist and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, who discovered that the Earth orbits the Sun. 277 times heavier than Hydrogen it will be the heaviest element on the table and will have the symbol Cp.

It was discovered in 1996 by an international team of scientists during nuclear fusion experiments at the Center for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt, Germany. A few weeks ago the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) confirmed their discovery and will officially endorse the name in six months time in order to allow the scientific community to discuss the suggested name.