# It's official: Element 118 is Og! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 2, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645 "2016-12-02T15:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/1 "2016-12-02T15:53:10Z")
OK, “Oganesson”, but its symbol is officially Og. Here you go, link to the news: [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/science/periodic-table-new-elements.html?\_r=1](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/01/science/periodic-table-new-elements.html?_r=1) This is lovely! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/2 "2016-12-02T16:16:13Z")
But does it smash? ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/3 "2016-12-02T16:22:52Z")
Go, Og!!! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/4 "2016-12-02T18:53:02Z")
From the Wikipedia page on it; The radioactive oganesson atom is very unstable, and since 2005, only four atoms of the isotope 294 Og have been detected. Although this allowed very little experimental characterization of its properties and possible compounds, theoretical calculations have resulted in many predictions, including some surprising ones. For example, although oganesson is a member of group 18 – the first synthetic one to be so – it may possibly not be a noble gas, unlike all the other elements of that group. It was formerly thought to be a gas under normal conditions but is now predicted to be a solid due to relativistic effects. On the periodic table of the elements it is a p-block element and the last one of the 7th period. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/5 "2016-12-02T19:02:00Z")
So, all these years, Charlie Brown has been trying to blame chemistry? _“Augh!”_ you know? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/6 "2016-12-02T21:20:24Z")
It never occurred to me that they’d ever change up the suffixes again. I think I got it into my head somehow that everything had to be “-ium” from here on out. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/7 "2016-12-02T21:27:45Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > So, all these years, Charlie Brown has been trying to blame chemistry? > > _“Augh!”_ you know? Isnt that pronounced more like Au? (Gold.) ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/8 "2016-12-02T22:40:54Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > It never occurred to me that they’d ever change up the suffixes again. I think I got it into my head somehow that everything had to be “-ium” from here on out. In addition to oganesson, element 117 is [tennessine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessine), not tennessium. Looking at the [periodic table](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table), elements in vertical columns generally form groups with similar chemical properties; if it stuck around for more than a fraction of a second, oganesson would therefore be a “noble gas” like helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon–[unless maybe it isn’t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oganesson#Calculated_atomic_and_physical_properties). (It wasn’t known that [helium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium) was a “noble gas” when it was discovered; in fact, the concept of the [noble gases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_gas) hadn’t yet been established, let alone the “-on” naming convention for group 18/noble gases, so helium didn’t wind up being called “helion”.) Similarly, tennessine is part of [group 17, AKA the halogens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halogen), along with more familiar and way longer-lived elements like chlorine and iodine. Element names ending in [-ium](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-ium#Suffix) conventionally tend to be used for [metals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/9 "2016-12-03T00:28:02Z")
Tom Lehrer is staying up late, writing another verse. (And will there ever be a “Lehrerium”?) ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/10 "2016-12-03T01:29:59Z")
So much for [Lemmium…](https://lemmium.org/you-win-some-you-lose-some/) Oh well, there’s always hope for Element 121. (The alkali group’s way too wimpy.) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/11 "2016-12-03T02:20:28Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > So much for [Lemmium…](https://lemmium.org/you-win-some-you-lose-some/) > > Oh well, there’s always hope for Element 121. (The alkali group’s way too wimpy.) If Lemmy couldn’t get an element what sort of lobby group did Adam Ant have? ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/12 "2016-12-03T03:10:29Z")
> [@](#): > > It was formerly thought to be a gas under normal conditions but is now predicted to be a solid due to relativistic effects. Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/13 "2016-12-03T04:48:06Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > In addition to oganesson, element 117 is [tennessine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessine), not tennessium. > > Looking at the [periodic table](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table), elements in vertical columns generally form groups with similar chemical properties; if it stuck around for more than a fraction of a second, oganesson would therefore be a “noble gas” like helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, and radon–[unless maybe it isn’t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oganesson#Calculated_atomic_and_physical_properties). (It wasn’t known that [helium](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helium) was a “noble gas” when it was discovered; in fact, the concept of the [noble gases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_gas) hadn’t yet been established, let alone the “-on” naming convention for group 18/noble gases, so helium didn’t wind up being called “helion”.) Similarly, tennessine is part of [group 17, AKA the halogens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halogen), along with more familiar and way longer-lived elements like chlorine and iodine. Element names ending in [-ium](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-ium#Suffix) conventionally tend to be used for [metals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal). Sure, but it wouldn’t have been a huge stretch to think that scientists might not bother with maintaining these naming conventions now that we’re this far into the wild, wacky world of heavy synthetic elements. Heck, as your link points out, oganesson is in the same group as the noble gases, but it’s probably not particularly noble or particularly gassy. (Cue an incredibly nerdy Linda Richman “Coffee Talk” sketch.) But if they want to stick with the established pattern, that’s cool with me. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/14 "2016-12-03T04:49:04Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Please explain. I think it’s like when my brother was visiting and he stunk up the bathroom. I later discovered a turd he hadn’t flushed. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/15 "2016-12-03T05:32:05Z")
IUPAC rules (not just a convention) require that all new metalic elements end with -ium. [cite (pdf)](https://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/pdf/1971/pdf/2801x0001.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/16 "2016-12-03T12:09:01Z")
One Doper in particular can attest to its tendency to bond with (E)-octadec-9-enoic acid. ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/17 "2016-12-03T12:31:12Z")
Should I change my name back to _ **Trans Fat Og?** _ ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/18 "2016-12-03T12:58:20Z")
> [@Find\_Friends](#): > > Should I change my name back to _ **Trans Fat Og?** _ See my post just before yours. 🙂 (Apparently, [elaidic acid](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaidic_acid) is the most common trans fat). ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2016, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/19 "2016-12-03T13:15:57Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > But does it smash? Well, it’s _produced_ by smashing… ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645/20 "2016-12-04T01:33:33Z")
The NYT articles mentions that one of the other newly-named elements is Moscovium, symbol Mc. I’m thinking Mornington Crescent’s offical element… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-element-118-is-og/773645.md?page=2)