"There has not been a single atomic element found in Asia, Oceania or Africa." If approved, it will join other newly announced elements: moscovium for element 116, tennessine for element 117 and oganesson for element 118. Japanese scientists behind the discovery of element 113, the first atomic element found in Asia - indeed, the first found outside Europe or the United States - have dubbed it "nihonium" after the Japanese-language name for their country. Element 113 was first found in 2004, and the number refers to its atomic number, or the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. It will also not be the only element to be named after a country, having been proceeded by polonium and francium after the places they were discovered.

Source: The Star June 09, 2016 09:08 UTC