Why do the names of the artificial elements swap between Greek and Latin prefixes, e.g. Ununquadium and Ununpentium?
by 
Farino
ANSWERS: 1
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This program was started a long time ago. When the elements were first being discovered, the scientists involved were a mix of lating and greek scholars. Whoever discovered the element got to decide how to name it. In the process, we ended up with things like Natrium (Na = Sodium?) Hygratium (Hg = Mercury) and Octets and Quartets. Without a naming convention, everything is free game. Eventually we ended up just continuing. Unipentium and Uniquadrium is just an extension of the foibles from the early 1800's.
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