Comment on Part of this complete breakfast!

• grandkaiser@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

  It’s called Sodium in English because an English chemist Sir Humphrey Davy discovered it & named it “Sodium” He was able to isolate it via separation of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) and therefore named it after the caustic soda “soda-ium”. A few years later, a German chemist (Ludwig Wilhelm Gilbert) was able to isolate it and named it “Natronium” Just under a decade later, Jöns Jacob Berzelius coined the term “Natrium” as he felt the name “Natronium” was too lengthy to catch on.

  As to exactly why the earlier term was not respected is likely due to nationalism. During the earlier 1800’s a lot of countries were desperately trying to take claim for various rapid advancements in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and medicine. Getting to have the name that “your guy” coined was largely bent around national pride.

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  • pumpkinseedoil@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨months⁩ ago

    Ty. So the question for its rightful name simply depends on whether you give it to the one who discovered it or the one who isolated it, interesting.

    I’ll skip that discussion and just say Natrium sounds better

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