Lemmium (Lm)

UPDATE: I expanded on the whimsy that would lemmium, bowium, rickmanium and woganium in my Materials Today column.

Regardless of petitions and campaigns, it’s unlikely that IUPAC/IUPAP will accept lemmium (Lm) as the new name for one of those recently discovered heavy metals because of basic naming constraints and because names usually go with institute or discoverer or some scientific hero rather than the late bass player from an awesome heavy metal band. Of course, heavy metal is akin to hard rock, so perhaps a mineral named after Lemmy (singer, bassist with Motorhead) would do? Lemmite! Stone dead forever, or overkill?

(Thanks to John Coupland and Joanne Manaster for discussion)

Liverpool professor backs campaign to name new heavy metal element after Motorhead frontman Lemmy (Beg to differ that Lemmy invented heavy metal, awesome as he was, that honour (claims on MC5 aside) goes to Black Sabbath, surely?