Four New Elements Added to the Periodic Table, Completes the Seventh Row

Memorizing the Periodic Table just got a little bit more difficult for high school students everywhere.

Elements 113, 115, 117 and 118 were added to the Periodic Table, completing the seventh row. They don’t have their real names yet, but the process for naming and symbolizing the new elements is currently taking place. The current names are a mouthful— ununtrium (element 113), ununpentium (element 115), ununseptium (element 117) and ununoctium (element 118). Good luck coming up with little memorizing ditties for those, kids.

These elements are manmade, and only are around for a teeny, tiny bit of time (we’re talking a minuscule amount of time) before decaying into other elements. It’s a special time for Asian chemists, as Element 113 will be the first element to be named in Asia. Mad props to RIKEN for getting the credit for discovery from the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Ha.