Feb. 7 : National Periodic Table Day & Mythology

On National Periodic Table Day (in the USA) we will take a look at how the elements got their names. There are currently 118 elements, with the latest 4 being discovered as recently as 2016 (and more predicted to be discovered soon).

Greek mythology has had a significant impact on the Periodic Table. The Greek philosopher Empedocles of Acragas, who lived in the fifth century B.C., identified the four basic elements of matter and force: fire, earth, air, and water, which he called “roots”. Although Empedocles did not create a periodic table, his ideas laid the foundation for the development of the modern periodic table.

The Greek language and Greek myth have also contributed greatly to the sciences, including chemistry. This is most apparent in the Periodic Table of Elements, which has many elements named after Greek gods and mythological figures. For example, the element Helium is named after Helios, the Greek god of the sun, and the element Mercury is named after the Roman messenger god Mercury.

Over half of the elements are named from Greek and Latin, as you can see:

Greek-42, Latin-23, English-11, German-5, Swedish-5, Anglo-Saxon-5, Russian-3, Norse-2, Japanese-1, Spanish-1, Sanskrit-1, Arabic-1, Gaelic-1, and the rest from names.

17 elements are named from Greek-Roman mythology : Helium (2), Phosphorous (15) Titanium (22), Selenium (34), Niobium (41), Palladium (46), Cadmium (48), Tellurium (52), Cerium (58), Promethium (61), Thulium (69), Tantalum (73), Iridium (77), Mercury (80), Uranium (92), Neptunium (93), Plutonium (94).

The Periodic Table is a testament to the enduring legacy of Greek mythology and the impact it has had on our understanding of the world around us.

If you want to learn more, you can find a full explanation of the elements with Greek names. Below are some books you will enjoy on the topic :

If you want to go deeper, take a look at some educational resources on the Periodic Table, or go to our post about chemistry .