Nomenclature Of Elements With Atomic Number
The IUPAC nomenclature system offers a globally consistent approach for naming elements and compounds based on their atomic structure—primarily the number of protons and neutrons—which promotes clear communication among scientists, educators, and researchers. Hydrogen (H), for example, has one proton, while helium (He) has two. Beyond elemental names, IUPAC defines rules for naming chemical compounds, enabling precise interpretation of molecular structures and reactions—an essential skill for fields such as medicine, environmental science, and pharmaceuticals.
Building on this, Mendeleev’s periodic table, introduced in 1869, organized elements by rising atomic weight and revealed repeating patterns in properties, leading him to leave gaps for then-undiscovered “eka‑elements.” His predictions for elements like gallium, scandium, and germanium were later validated, confirming the “periodic law.” Though hydrogen’s placement, isotopes, and certain weight-based anomalies posed challenges, the later shift to atomic‑number ordering (Moseley’s revision) resolved these issues.
Mastery of IUPAC nomenclature and periodic trends—especially for JEE Main, BITSAT, SRMJEE, WBJEE, BCECE—is vital for solving exam questions related to structure, bonding, and chemical behavior.
IUPAC proposed a system for naming elements with Z > 100. By using these rules as follows-
The names are derived by using roots for the three digits in an atomic number of the element and adding the ending-mum. The roots for the numbers are:
Digit | Name | Abbreviation |
0 | nil | n |
1 | un | u |
2 | bi | b |
3 | tri | t |
4 | quad | q |
5 | pent | p |
6 | hex | h |
7 | sept | s |
8 | oct | o |
9 | enn | e |
In some cases the names are shortened; bi ium and tri ium are shortened to bium and trium respectively, and enn nil is shortened to ennil.
The symbol for the element is made from the first letters of the roots which make up the name. The strange mixture of Latin and Greek roots has been chosen to ensure that the symbols are all different.
Nomenclature of Elements with Atomic Number Above 100 | ||||
Atomic Number | Name according to IUPAC nomenclature | Symbol | IUPAC Official Name | IUPAC Symbol |
101 | Unnilunium | Unu | Mendelevium | Md |
102 | Unnilbium | Unb | Nobelium | No |
103 | Unniltrium | Unt | Lawrencium | Lr |
104 | Unnilquadium | Unq | Rutherfordium | Rf |
105 | Unnilpentium | Unp | Dubnium | Db |
106 | Unnilhexium | Unh | Seaborgium | Sg |
107 | Unnilseptium | Uns | Bohrium | Bh |
108 | Unniloctium | Uno | Hassium | Hs |
109 | Unnilennium | Une | Meitnerium | Mt |
110 | Ununnillium | Uun | Darmstadtium | Ds |
111 | Unununnium | Uuu | Roentgenium | Rg |
112 | Ununbium | Uub | Copernicium | Cn |
113 | Ununtrium | Uut | Nihonium | Nn |
114 | Ununquadium | Uuq | Flerovium | Fl |
115 | Ununpentium | Uup | Moscovium | Mc |
116 | Ununhexium | Uuh | Livermorium | Lv |
117 | Ununseptium | Uus | Tennessine | Ts |
118 | Ununoctium | Uuo | Oganesson | Og |
Also Read:
- Electronic Configuration In Periods And Groups
- Classification Of Elements And Periodicity In Properties
- Metals, Non-metals And Metalloids
Recommended video on (Nomenclature Of Elements With Atomic Number):
Solved Examples Based On Iupac Nomenclature and Notation of Elements
Example 1: What would be the IUPAC name of the element with atomic number 117?
1) Unnilennium
2) Ununbium
3) Ununseptium
4) Unnilseptium
Solution: The IUPAC name of the element with atomic number 117 is Ununseptium.
Hence, the answer is the option (3).
Example 2: What is the IUPAC name and symbol of the element with atomic number 149?
1) Unnilquadium, Unq
2) Unquadennium, Uqe
3) Unniloctium, Uno
4) Unnilennium, Une
Solution: The IUPAC name of an element with atomic number 149 is Unquadennium and its symbol is Uqe.
Hence, the answer is the option (2).
Example 3: What is the first element with an atomic number greater than 100?
1) 101, Ununbium
2) 101, Unniltrium
3) 101, Unnilunium
4) 101, Unnilpentium
Solution: The first element with an atomic number greater than 100 is 101 and its IUPAC name is Unnilunium.
Hence, the answer is the option (3).
Example 4: The atomic number of the element unnilennium
1) 109
2) 102
3) 108
4) 119
Solution: The atomic number of the unnilennium is 109.
Word root: un - 1
nil - 0
biennium - 9
Hence, the answer is the option (1).
Example 5: The IUPAC nomenclature of an element with electronic configuration [Rn]5f146d17s2 is :
1) Unnilbium
2)Unnilunium
3)Unnilquadium
4) Unniltrium
Solution:
[Rn]5f146d17s2: 86+14+1+2 = 103 (Lr)
Atomic number =103
103= Unniltrium
Hence, the answer is the option (4).
Example 6: What would be the IUPAC name of the element with atomic number 119?
1) Unnilennium
2) Ununennium
3) Ununseptium
4) Unnilseptium
Solution: The IUPAC name of the element with atomic number 119 is Ununennium .
Hence, the answer is the option (2).
Practice more Questions from the link given below:
| IUPAC Nomenclature and Notation of Element - Practice questions and MCQs |
| Classification of Elements as Metals, Nonmetals and Metalloids -Practice questions and MCQs |
Conclusion
The IUPAC nomenclature and notation system plays a vital role in chemistry by providing a standardized method for naming and representing elements and compounds. By aligning each name and symbol with its atomic structure, it ensures clarity and precision in scientific communication. Moreover, IUPAC conventions apply not only to individual elements but also to a wide range of chemical compounds, helping to systematically classify molecular structures. This standardized approach simplifies the introduction of new chemicals—across pharmaceuticals, materials science, and other fields—by making their naming intuitive and understandable. Ultimately, familiarity with IUPAC nomenclature is essential for students and chemists alike, enabling them to effectively share discoveries, conduct meaningful research, and contribute to scientific advancement for society’s benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fermium is a synthetic chemical element; it has symbol Fm and atomic number 100.
The "-ium" suffix ensures linguistic consistency and follows historical naming conventions for metals. In revised rules, new halogens and noble gases may use “‑ine” or “‑on” with traditional suffixes (e.g., tennessine, oganesson).
Yes, historical disputes have occurred (e.g., element 104 had both “Rutherfordium” and “Kurchatovium”). To resolve these, IUPAC implemented systematic naming and eventually selected a consensus official name.
Un refers to 1 and tri refers to 3, the Ununtrium element has an atomic number is 113.
The IUPAC nomenclature for the atomic number 107 is Unnilseptium.
IUPAC's official names of elements with atomic numbers 101 and 102 are Mendelevium and Nobelium.
Unbinilium, also known as eka-radium or element 120, is the hypothetical chemical element in the periodic table with the symbol Ubn and atomic number 120. It is placed below Radium.
