systematic element name

systematic element name (plural systematic element names)

1. (chemistry) A systematic name for an element, derived from the digits of its atomic number to which the suffix -(i)um is appended; normally only used for transuranic elements before or for a short period after they have been created, after which they will be given a non-systematic name.

   Before the IUPAC named the element with atomic number 106 “seaborgium” in honour of Glenn Seaborg, it was referred to by the systematic element name unnilhexium.

• -nil-, -un-, -bi-, -tri-, -quad-, -pent-, -hex-, -sept-, -oct-, -enn-