Question: Which Elements Are Named for Places?
Answer: This is an alphabetical list of element toponyms or elements named for places or regions. Ytterby in Sweden has given its name to four elements: Erbium, Terbium, Ytterbium and Yttrium.
- Americium – America, the Americas
- Berkelium – University of California at Berkeley
- Californium – State of California and University of California at Berkeley
- Copper - probably named for Cyprus
- Darmstadtium – Darmstadt, Germany
- Dubnium – Dubna, Russia
- Erbium – Ytterby, a town in Sweden
- Europium – Europe
- Francium – France
- Gallium – Gallia, Latin for France. Also named for Lecoq de Boisbaudran, the element's discoverer (Lecoq in Latin is gallus)
- Germanium – Germany
- Hafnium – Hafnia, Latin for Copenhagen
- Hassium – Hesse, Germany
- Holmium – Holmia, Latin for Stockholm
- Lutetium – Lutecia, ancient name for Paris
- Magnesium – Magnesia prefecture in Thessaly, Greece
- Polonium – Poland
- Rhenium – Rhenus, Latin for Rhine, a German province
- Ruthenium – Ruthenia, Latin for Russia
- Scandium – Scandia, Latin for Scandinavia
- Strontium – Strontian, a town in Scotland
- Terbium – Ytterby, Sweden
- Thulium – Thule, a mythical island in the far north (Scandinavia?)
- Ytterbium – Ytterby, Sweden
- Yttrium – Ytterby, Sweden
