OAK RIDGE – Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which played a key role in the 2010 discovery and confirmation of a series of new super-heavy elements, has been rewarded with the naming of one of the elements “Tennessine.”
The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry announced the “provisional recommendation” that Element 117 be called Tennessine. Its symbol will be Ts. The provisional name will now undergo a public review before final approval.
The name also recognizes the contributions of the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University. The discovery team for three of the elements included 72 scientists from 16 institutions around the world.