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Periodic DiscussionsElement 112 was discovered more than a decade ago. Why wasn't it given a place on the periodic table until now?

By Sam KeanPosted Friday, June 12, 2009, at 3:59 PM ET

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Correction, June 15, 2009: The original version switched the order of "Pure" and "Applied" in the full name of IUPAC. (Return to the corrected sentence.)

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Sam Kean is writing a book about the periodic table forthcoming next year.
Sample of extended periodic table from Wikimedia.
COMMENTS

I sure don't see a reason for schools to buy new periodic tables. Learning the *useful* elements and their properties should be enough. Any science pedant can draw in a spot on the table for this. It will surely not be used in any experiments the kids do.

-- Bondsman
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