# Petition launched to name new element "Octarine" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 10, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643 "2016-01-10T00:01:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/1 "2016-01-10T00:01:50Z")
[In honor of the late Sir Terry.](http://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/jan/08/petition-terry-pratchett-element-octarine-discworld-colour-of-magic) I promise not to let it get to my head . . . 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@Troy\_McClure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/2 "2016-01-10T03:09:27Z")
Seems like octiron would be more relevant. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/3 "2016-01-10T03:12:53Z")
Sounds like a breakfast drink. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/4 "2016-01-10T03:40:30Z")
I still think I should name it after Lemmy from Motorhead. ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/5 "2016-01-10T06:31:41Z")
Octarine is a color in the discworld universe, not an element. And anyway to fit other naming conventions it should be Octarinium - Not Octarine. I agree with Channing Idaho Banks - Lemmium is much more fitting since the new elements are Heavy metals. And anyway Lemmy’s pettition has 83,000 vs 12,000 for Octarine. > **[‘Name new heavy metal element after Motörhead’s Lemmy,’ says physics professor](https://www.rt.com/uk/328185-lemmy-motorhead-element-petition/)** > > A physics professor is supporting a campaign calling for a newly discovered element to be named in memory of Motörhead front man Lemmy Kilmister. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/6 "2016-01-10T09:17:52Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > Octarine is a color in the discworld universe, not an element. And anyway to fit other naming conventions it should be Octarinium - Not Octarine. > > I agree with Channing Idaho Banks - Lemmium is much more fitting since the new elements are Heavy metals. And anyway Lemmy’s pettition has 83,000 vs 12,000 for Octarine. > > [https://www.rt.com/uk/328185-lemmy-motorhead-element-petition/](https://www.rt.com/uk/328185-lemmy-motorhead-element-petition/) The idea is that it fits the naming pattern of all the other halogens: Fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/7 "2016-01-10T13:36:02Z")
I, for one, plan to start a petition to rename one or more of erbium (Er), terbium (Tb), ytterbium (Yb) or yttrium (Y). It’s not fair to have _four_ elements named after some pissant town in Sweden. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/8 "2016-01-10T15:48:23Z")
Considering I use Octarine as my screen name everywhere else online except here I heartily approve of this! Or Octarinefire. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/9 "2016-01-11T08:50:06Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Sounds like a breakfast drink. Or an 8-sided fruit related to the peach. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/10 "2016-01-11T08:57:34Z")
I’m the hugest Pratchett fan I know, but I think this is a dumb idea. Partly for the reason **Troy McClure** gave, partly because it’s gimmicky, and Pterry was never gimmicky. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/11 "2016-01-11T09:43:22Z")
From what I read it’s maybe a metalloid? Kind of milquetoast to name after Lemmy unless it’s a true heavy metal. I’m holding out for Dioium. Wait though, they want to give an oct- prefix to element 117? :dubious: Wouldn’t renaming ununoctium be a better idea? > [@Troy\_McClure](#): > > Seems like octiron would be more relevant. Did you ask a scientician? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/petition-launched-to-name-new-element-octarine/742643/12 "2016-01-11T15:02:56Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Or an 8-sided fruit related to the peach. Careful, there. You mean a _“7 plus 1”_-sided fruit, don’t you?