Well yes and no, but mostly no. The originally-proposed name by the Brit who named it was actually alumium. Scientists in other European countries (not the UK) gave him feedback that it should have the prefix ‘ium’ and logically be named aluminium as it is refined from an alumina/alumine oxide, following the naming pattern of other elements. He agreed and refined it to aluminium, but also used aluminum in a textbook he wrote around the same time.
This was all within a decade or so more than 200 years ago. The scientific world settled on aluminium long before any products had even hit the market in the US, but Noah Webster for whatever reason decided to use the spelling ‘aluminum’ in his dictionary in 1828, even though US scientists were already using ‘aluminium’ and it was more common locally. And once it was in the dictionary (with no mention of the alternate spelling) it stuck.
And the next should be…? If an element ends in “um” there’s normally an “i” before the “um”. We should also fix Molybdenum, Lanthanum and Tantalum while we’re at it. There are 80 elements with an “ium” ending, but only 3 or 4 (depending on if you say Aluminum or Aluminium) without the “i”.
Exact same thing with aluminum. Officially named by the Brits, then other Brits didn’t like it.
Well yes and no, but mostly no. The originally-proposed name by the Brit who named it was actually alumium. Scientists in other European countries (not the UK) gave him feedback that it should have the prefix ‘ium’ and logically be named aluminium as it is refined from an alumina/alumine oxide, following the naming pattern of other elements. He agreed and refined it to aluminium, but also used aluminum in a textbook he wrote around the same time.
This was all within a decade or so more than 200 years ago. The scientific world settled on aluminium long before any products had even hit the market in the US, but Noah Webster for whatever reason decided to use the spelling ‘aluminum’ in his dictionary in 1828, even though US scientists were already using ‘aluminium’ and it was more common locally. And once it was in the dictionary (with no mention of the alternate spelling) it stuck.
So this one is mostly on the US.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium#Etymology
The revised name is better though:
And the next should be…? If an element ends in “um” there’s normally an “i” before the “um”. We should also fix Molybdenum, Lanthanum and Tantalum while we’re at it. There are 80 elements with an “ium” ending, but only 3 or 4 (depending on if you say Aluminum or Aluminium) without the “i”.
Also, screw it, #79 should be Aurium.
You’d really be fucking Spandau Ballet over with that one.
On the flip side, how would you pronounce the following?
Helum
Magnesum
Tatanum
Sodum
Writing them that way would be Sodum.
Sod 'em.
So dumb, for me.
I’d just say
Helum
Magnesum
Tatanum
Sodum