Paneth, IUPAC , and the Naming of Elements

The procedure for assigning names to elements by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry involves establishing priority of discovery, then inviting the discoverers to suggest a name. This protocol is in contrast with the suggestions of Friedrich A. Paneth form 1947, who believed that the discoverers of an element have the undisputed right to name it. This difference in philosophy came to light during a workshop convened 10 years ago for the purpose of naming elements 104–109, when the discoverers of these elements contended that they were solely entitled to name them. During the debate, and in support of the name seaborgium for element 106, it was argued that gadolinium, samarium, gallium, einsteinium and fermium had been named after living scientists. The history of the naming of these elements demonstrates that this is not the case; Glenn T. Seaborg is the first scientist for whom an element was named during his lifetime.