My Chemical Elements Word Game

You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.

I’m Grant Barrett.

And I’m Martha Barnette.

And joining us now is our quiz guide, John Chaneski.

Hey, John.

Hey, Martha.

Hi, John.

Hi, Grant.

How are you guys?

Doing well.

Super duper.

Good.

I’m doing very well as well.

You know, as a puzzle person, I’m one of those people who used to, I like to look at maps all the time and charts and things. I love science for all its words and for its elements. Now, to me, the periodic table is like a map. I could examine it all day. The names of the elements or symbols are all fascinating to me.

So I’ve got for you guys a little quiz about the periodic chart and the elements thereon. Okay?

Sure.

Oh, boy.

All right. Some elements were named because they did not get along, so to speak. They didn’t form compounds with other elements. For example, argon comes with the word argos, meaning idle. Which element comes from the Greek word for stranger?

Is there a xenium or something?

Close, yeah. It’s a noble gas.

It is xenon, yes, because it estranged itself from other elements. Very good.

Only two elements are named for continents. You’ve got a two-in-seven chance. What are they?

Americanium or something like that?

Amerisium, very good.

Amerisium?

Right.

Eneuropium?

Eneuropium, yes. Amarisium was named Amarisium because the element above it was named for Europe. So they said, that’s a real way to decide. Okay, we gave one to Europe. Let’s give one to the Americas. Nicely done.

Only four elements are named for countries in which they were discovered or their discoverer’s homeland. Can you name them?

Well, by homeland, do you mean like Californium?

No, I’m talking about countries.

Yeah.

But good knowing for Californium.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay francium right for France which was it was isolated there.

Is there a polonium?

There is a polonium for Marie Curie’s birthplace, very good.

Is there a britannium?

Not britannium, no.

Stay in Europe though.

Okay germanium.

Yes, germanium, yes, very good. So you’ve got francium, polonium, germanium. There’s one other element, but it was also named for one of the countries we’ve already named.

Oh.

Francium or?

Think Latin.

Gallium.

Gallium, yes, very good. Two elements named for France. Nice.

Only three elements were named for extraterrestrial planets. Mercury doesn’t count. That was named for the Greek messenger god. What are the others?

Extraterrestrial planets.

Wow.

Plutonium.

Plutonium, yes.

Which is now a dwarf planet, rest in peace.

Pluto, yes, that’s one.

Uranium.

Uranium is the second, yes. Only got one left.

Is there a neptunium?

There is a neptunium. There is? Nicely done, yes.

Lots of elements were named for mythological characters, but really only one is named for a mythological god who is also, actually, an Avenger. Which one is it?

Thorium.

Thorium is correct. Yes, it’s a god, it’s an Avenger, it’s an element, it’s Thor for Thorium. Yes, way to go. You guys did pretty well on that Word Elements quiz.

Thank you, John. We’ll talk to you next week.

Give our best to the family.

You too. Bye-bye.

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