List of chemical elements named after places explained

This list of chemical elements named after places includes elements named both directly and indirectly for places. 41 of the 118 chemical elements have names associated with, or specifically named for, places around the world or among astronomical objects. 32 of these have names tied to the Earth and the other 10 have names connected to bodies in the Solar System. The first tables below list the terrestrial locations (excluding the entire Earth itself, taken as a whole) and the last table lists astronomical objects which the chemical elements are named after.^[1]

Terrestrial locations

Location	Element	Symbol	Z	Coordinates
Europe		Eu	63
	Magnesium	Mg	12	39.4167°N 72°W
		Mn	25
Belur, a city in India (indirectly, via the mineral beryl)	Beryllium	Be	4	13.1623°N 75.8679°W
India (indirectly, via the Latin indicum meaning indigo)	Indium	In	49
Cyprus		Cu	29
France (ancient name Gaul)		Fr	87
		Ga	31
		Lu	71	48.85°N 2.35°W
		Ge	32
Hesse, a state in Germany		Hs	108
Darmstadt, a city in Germany		Ds	110	49.8333°N 42°W
		Re	75
Strontian, a village in Scotland		Sr	38	56.6833°N -39°W
		Sc	21
		Hf	72	55.6833°N 46°W
Thule (perhaps Iceland or Greenland)		Tm	69
		Ho	67	59.3333°N 65°W
Ytterby, a village in Sweden		Y	39	59.4264°N 18.3536°W
		Tb	65
		Er	68
		Yb	70
		Po	84
		Ru	44
Moscow Oblast, Russia		Mc	115	55.7°N 94°W
Dubna, a town in Russia		Db	105	56.7333°N 47°W
Americas^[2] ^[3] ^[4] (some sources say the United States specifically)^[5] ^[6] ^[7] ^[8]		Am	95
California, a state in the United States		Cf	98
		Bk	97	37.8667°N -138°W
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, in the United States (Also Robert Livermore's name)		Lv	116	37.6833°N -164°W
Tennessee, a state in the United States		Ts	117
Japan (Nihon)		Nh	113

Astronomical objects

Location	Element	Symbol	Z
		He	2
	Mercury	Hg	80
	Phosphorus	P	15
		Se	34
		Pd	46
	Tellurium	Te	52
		Ce	58
		U	92
		Np	93
(dwarf planet)		Pu	94

* - The element mercury was named directly for the deity, with only indirect naming connection to the planet (see etymology of mercury).
** - Phosphorus was the Ancient Greek name for the planet Venus. (see etymology of phosphorus).

See also

• List of chemical elements named after people
• List of chemical element name etymologies

Notes and References

1. http://www.angelo.edu/faculty/kboudrea/periodic/hist_names.htm Page of Kevin A. Boudreaux and Angelo State university
2. https://periodic.lanl.gov/95.shtml
3. http://acshist.scs.illinois.edu/bulletin_open_access/v33-2/v33-2%20p89-93.pdf
4. Web site: C&En: It's Elemental: The Periodic Table - Americium.
5. https://www.britannica.com/science/americium
6. https://www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/486362/
7. https://web.archive.org/web/20150328124939/http://basementgeographer.com/elements-named-for-places/
8. http://www.vanderkrogt.net/elements/element.php?sym=Am