Which Elements Are Named After Famous Scientists?
Elements that are named after famous scientists include einsteinium, bohrium, copernicium, fermium and curium. All of these elements are radioactive and have no biological role in the body.
Einsteinium was named after Albert Einstein. It was discovered at Los Alamos. Its atomic number is 99, its symbol is Es and it is solid at room temperature. Scientists believe it is a silvery-white metal.
Bohrium was named after the Danish scientist Niels Bohr. Its symbol is Bh and its atomic number is 107. Like Einsteinium, it is probably a grayish or silvery metal at room temperature. It was discovered in 1981 in Darmstadt, Germany.
Copernicum, atomic number 112, was named for the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and was discovered in 1996, also in Darmstadt. Its atomic weight is 285. It is also expected to be a solid metal at room temperature.
Fermium was named after Enrico Fermi. With an atomic number of 100 and an atomic weight of 257, it has a melting point of 2781 degrees Fahrenheit, though its boiling point and density are unknown. It was discovered in 1952 and is a by-product of the detonation of a hydrogen bomb.
Curium was named after both Pierre and Marie Curie, who were pioneers in the field of radioactivity. It is also a solid metal at room temperature.
