The Discoverers of Periodic Elements

Every chemical element has at least one name attached to it - the people who predicted, discovered, isolated, named or formally recognized each of the 118 elements. Sort the table by atomic number or by year of discovery to explore who shaped the periodic table.

Background color shows age of discovery

Before Middle Ages Middle Ages-1799 1800-1849 1850-1899 1900-1949 1950-1999 Since 2000

Element	Discoverers
1 H Hydrogen 1766	Discovery and first isolation Henry Cavendish (1766) Named by Antoine Lavoisier (1783)
2 He Helium 1868	Discovery Pierre Janssen, Norman Lockyer (1868) First isolation William Ramsay, Per Teodor Cleve, Abraham Langlet (1895) Named by Edward Frankland, Norman Lockyer (1868)
3 Li Lithium 1817	Discovery Johan August Arfwedson (1817) First isolation William Thomas Brande, Sir Humphrey Davy (1821)
4 Be Beryllium 1798	Discovery Louis Nicolas Vauquelin (1798) First isolation Friedrich Wöhler, Antoine Bussy (1828)
5 B Boron 1808	Discovery Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac, Louis Jacques Thénard (1808) First isolation Humphry Davy (1808)
6 C Carbon 3750 BC	Discovery Egyptians and Sumerians (3750 BC) Recognized as an element by Antoine Lavoisier (1789)
7 N Nitrogen 1772	Discovery and first isolation Daniel Rutherford (1772) Named by Jean-Antoine Chaptal (1790)
8 O Oxygen 1774	Discovery Carl Wilhelm Scheele, Joseph Priestley (1774) Named by Antoine Lavoisier (1777)
9 F Fluorine 1810	Discovery André-Marie Ampère (1810) First isolation Henri Moissan (1886) Named by Humphry Davy, André-Marie Ampère
10 Ne Neon 1898	Prediction William Ramsay (1897) Discovery and first isolation William Ramsay, Morris Travers (1898)
11 Na Sodium 1807	Discovery and first isolation Humphry Davy (1807)
12 Mg Magnesium 1755	Discovery Joseph Black (1755) First isolation Humphry Davy (1808) Named by Humphry Davy (1812)
13 Al Aluminium 1824	Prediction Antoine Lavoisier (1782) Discovery Hans Christian Ørsted (1824) Named by Humphry Davy (1812)
14 Si Silicon 1823	Prediction Antoine Lavoisier (1787) Discovery and first isolation Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1823) Named by Thomas Thomson (1817)
15 P Phosphorus 1669	Discovery and first isolation Hennig Brand (1669) Recognised as an element by Antoine Lavoisier (1777)
16 S Sulfur 2000 BC	Discovery Middle East (2000 BC) Recognized as an element by Antoine Lavoisier (1777)
17 Cl Chlorine 1774	Discovery and first isolation Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1774) Named by Sir Humphry Davy (1810) Recognized as an element by Humphry Davy (1810)
18 Ar Argon 1894	Discovery and first isolation Lord Rayleigh, William Ramsay (1894)
19 K Potassium 1807	Discovery and first isolation Humphry Davy (1807)
20 Ca Calcium 1808	Discovery and first isolation Humphry Davy (1808)
21 Sc Scandium 1879	Prediction Dmitrij Mendelejev (1871) Discovery and first isolation Lars Fredrik Nilson (1879)
22 Ti Titanium 1791	Discovery William Gregor (1791) First isolation Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1825) Named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1795)
23 V Vanadium 1801	Discovery and first isolation Andrés Manuel del Río (1801) Named by Nils Gabriel Sefström (1830)
24 Cr Chromium 1794	Discovery Louis Nicolas Vauquelin (1794) First isolation Louis Nicolas Vauquelin (1797)
25 Mn Manganese 1774	Discovery Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1774) First isolation Johann Gottlieb Gahn (1774)
26 Fe Iron 5000 BC	Discovery Middle East (5000 BC)
27 Co Cobalt 1735	Discovery and first isolation Georg Brandt (1735)
28 Ni Nickel 1751	Discovery and first isolation Axel Fredrik Cronstedt (1751)
29 Cu Copper 9000 BC	Discovery Middle East (9000 BC)
30 Zn Zinc 1000 BC	Discovery Indian metallurgists (1000 BC) First isolation Andreas Sigismund Marggraf (1746) Named by Paracelsus Recognized as a unique metal by Rasaratna Samuccaya (1300)
31 Ga Gallium 1875	Prediction Dmitri Mendeleev (1871) Discovery and first isolation Paul-Émile Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1875)
32 Ge Germanium 1886	Prediction Dmitri Mendeleev (1869) Discovery and first isolation Clemens Winkler (1886)
33 As Arsenic 300	Discovery Zosimos of Panopolis (300)
34 Se Selenium 1817	Discovery and first isolation Jöns Jakob Berzelius, Johan Gottlieb Gahn (1817)
35 Br Bromine 1825	Discovery and first isolation Antoine Jérôme Balard, Carl Jacob Löwig (1825)
36 Kr Krypton 1898	Discovery and first isolation William Ramsay, Morris Travers (1898)
37 Rb Rubidium 1861	Discovery Robert Bunsen, Gustav Kirchhoff (1861) First isolation Robert Bunsen (1863)
38 Sr Strontium 1787	Discovery William Cruickshank (1787) First isolation Humphry Davy (1808) Named by Humphry Davy (1808)
39 Y Yttrium 1794	Discovery Johan Gadolin (1794) First isolation Friedrich Wöhler (1838)
40 Zr Zirconium 1789	Discovery Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1789) First isolation Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1824)
41 Nb Niobium 1801	Discovery Charles Hatchett (1801) First isolation Christian Wilhelm Blomstrand (1864) Recognized as a distinct element by Heinrich Rose (1844)
42 Mo Molybdenum 1778	Discovery Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1778) First isolation Peter Jacob Hjelm (1781) Named by Peter Jacob Hjelm (1781)
43 Tc Technetium 1937	Prediction Dmitri Mendeleev (1871) Discovery and first isolation Carlo Perrier, Emilio Segrè (1937)
44 Ru Ruthenium 1844	Discovery and first isolation Karl Ernst Claus (1844)
45 Rh Rhodium 1804	Discovery and first isolation William Hyde Wollaston (1804)
46 Pd Palladium 1802	Discovery and first isolation William Hyde Wollaston (1802)
47 Ag Silver 5000 BC	Discovery Asia Minor (5000 BC)
48 Cd Cadmium 1817	Discovery and first isolation Friedrich Stromeyer; Karl Samuel Leberecht Hermann (independently) (1817) Named by Friedrich Stromeyer (1817)
49 In Indium 1863	Discovery Ferdinand Reich, Hieronymous Theodor Richter (1863) First isolation Hieronymous Theodor Richter (1864)
50 Sn Tin 3500 BC	Discovery Asia Minor (3500 BC)
51 Sb Antimony 850	Discovery Jabir ibn Hayyan (intentional isolation) (850)
52 Te Tellurium 1782	Discovery Franz-Joseph Müller von Reichenstein (1782) First isolation Martin Heinrich Klaproth Named by Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1798)
53 I Iodine 1811	Discovery and first isolation Bernard Courtois (1811) Named by Joseph Louis Gay-Lussac (1813)
54 Xe Xenon 1898	Discovery and first isolation William Ramsay, Morris Travers (1898) Named by William Ramsay (1898)
55 Cs Cesium 1860	Discovery Robert Bunsen, Gustav Kirchhoff (1860) First isolation Carl Setterberg (1882)
56 Ba Barium 1772	Discovery Carl Wilhelm Scheele (1772) First isolation Humphry Davy (1808) Named by Humphry Davy (1808)
57 La Lanthanum 1838	Discovery Carl Gustaf Mosander (1838) Named by Carl Gustaf Mosander (1839)
58 Ce Cerium 1803	Discovery Martin Heinrich Klaproth, Wilhelm Hisinger, Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1803) First isolation Carl Gustaf Mosander (1838) Named by Jöns Jacob Berzelius
59 Pr Praseodymium 1885	Discovery Carl Auer von Welsbach (1885)
60 Nd Neodymium 1885	Discovery Carl Auer von Welsbach (1885)
61 Pm Promethium 1945	Discovery Charles D. Coryell, Jacob A. Marinsky, Lawrence E. Glendenin (1945) Named by Grace Mary Coryell (1945)
62 Sm Samarium 1879	Discovery and first isolation Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1879) Named by Lecoq de Boisbaudran
63 Eu Europium 1896	Discovery Eugène-Anatole Demarçay (1896) First isolation Eugène-Anatole Demarçay (1901)
64 Gd Gadolinium 1880	Discovery Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (1880) First isolation Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1886)
65 Tb Terbium 1843	Discovery and first isolation Carl Gustaf Mosander (1843)
66 Dy Dysprosium 1886	Discovery Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1886) First isolation Georges Urbain (1906) Named by Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1886)
67 Ho Holmium 1878	Discovery Jacques-Louis Soret, Marc Delafontaine (1878) First isolation Per Teodor Cleve (1879) Named by Per Teodor Cleve (1879)
68 Er Erbium 1843	Discovery Carl Gustaf Mosander (1843)
69 Tm Thulium 1879	Discovery and first isolation Per Teodor Cleve (1879)
70 Yb Ytterbium 1878	Discovery Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (1878) First isolation Carl Auer von Welsbach (1906)
71 Lu Lutetium 1907	Discovery and first isolation Carl Auer von Welsbach, Georges Urbain, Charles James (1907) Named by Georges Urbain (1907)
72 Hf Hafnium 1922	Prediction Dmitri Mendeleev (1869) Discovery and first isolation Dirk Coster, George de Hevesy (1922)
73 Ta Tantalum 1802	Discovery Anders Gustaf Ekeberg (1802) First isolation Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (1864) Recognized as a distinct element by Heinrich Rose (1844)
74 W Tungsten 1783	Discovery and first isolation Juan José Elhuyar, Fausto Elhuyar (1783) Named by Torbern Bergman (1781)
75 Re Rhenium 1925	Discovery Walter Noddack, Ida Noddack, Otto Berg (1925) First isolation Walter Noddack, Ida Noddack (1928)
76 Os Osmium 1803	Discovery and first isolation Smithson Tennant (1803) Named by Smithson Tennant
77 Ir Iridium 1803	Discovery and first isolation Smithson Tennant (1803)
78 Pt Platinum 1735	Discovery Antonio de Ulloa (1735)
79 Au Gold 6000 BC	Discovery Levant (6000 BC)
80 Hg Mercury 1500 BC	Discovery Egyptians (1500 BC)
81 Tl Thallium 1861	Discovery William Crookes (1861) First isolation Claude-Auguste Lamy (1862)
82 Pb Lead 7000 BC	Discovery Ancient Near East (7000 BC)
83 Bi Bismuth 1753	Discovery Claude François Geoffroy (1753)
84 Po Polonium 1898	Discovery Pierre Curie, Marie Curie (1898) First isolation Willy Marckwald (1902) Named by Pierre Curie, Marie Curie
85 At Astatine 1940	Discovery Dale R. Corson, Kenneth Ross MacKenzie, Emilio Segrè (1940)
86 Rn Radon 1899	Discovery Ernest Rutherford, Robert Bowie Owens (1899) First isolation William Ramsay, Robert Whytlaw-Gray (1910)
87 Fr Francium 1939	Discovery and first isolation Marguerite Perey (1939)
88 Ra Radium 1898	Discovery Pierre Curie, Marie Curie (1898) First isolation Marie Curie (1910)
89 Ac Actinium 1902	Discovery Friedrich Oskar Giesel (1902) First isolation Friedrich Oskar Giesel (1903) Named by André-Louis Debierne (1899)
90 Th Thorium 1829	Discovery Jöns Jakob Berzelius (1829)
91 Pa Protactinium 1913	Prediction Dmitri Mendeleev Discovery Oswald Helmuth Göhring, Kazimierz Fajans (1913) Named by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner (1917)
92 U Uranium 1789	Discovery Martin Heinrich Klaproth (1789) First isolation Eugène-Melchior Péligot (1841)
93 Np Neptunium 1940	Discovery Edwin McMillan, Philip H. Abelson (1940)
94 Pu Plutonium 1940	Discovery Glenn T. Seaborg, Arthur Wahl, Joseph W. Kennedy, Edwin McMillan (1940)
95 Am Americium 1944	Discovery Glenn T. Seaborg, R. A. James, Leon O. Morgan, A. Ghiorso (1944)
96 Cm Curium 1944	Discovery Glenn T. Seaborg, Ralph A. James, Albert Ghiorso (1944)
97 Bk Berkelium 1949	Discovery Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1949)
98 Cf Californium 1950	Discovery Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1950)
99 Es Einsteinium 1952	Discovery Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1952)
100 Fm Fermium 1952	Discovery Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1952)
101 Md Mendelevium 1955	Discovery Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1955)
102 No Nobelium 1966	Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (1966)
103 Lr Lawrencium 1961	Discovery Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (1961)
104 Rf Rutherfordium 1969	Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1969)
105 Db Dubnium 1970	Discovery Independently by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory and Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (1970)
106 Sg Seaborgium 1974	Discovery Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (1974) Named by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
107 Bh Bohrium 1981	Discovery Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (1981) Named by GSI
108 Hs Hassium 1984	Discovery Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (1984) Named by GSI
109 Mt Meitnerium 1982	Discovery Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (1982) Named by GSI
110 Ds Darmstadtium 1994	Discovery Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (1994) Named by GSI
111 Rg Roentgenium 1994	Discovery Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (1994) Named by GSI
112 Cn Copernicium 1996	Discovery Gesellschaft für Schwerionenforschung (1996) Named by GSI
113 Nh Nihonium 2003	Discovery RIKEN (2003) Named by RIKEN
114 Fl Flerovium 1998	Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (1998) Named by JINR, LLNL
115 Mc Moscovium 2003	Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2003) Named by JINR, LLNL, ORNL, Vanderbilt University
116 Lv Livermorium 2000	Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2000) Named by JINR, LLNL
117 Ts Tennessine 2009	Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2009) Named by JINR, LLNL, ORNL, Vanderbilt University
118 Og Oganesson 2002	Discovery Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2002) Named by JINR, LLNL

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The Discoverers of Periodic Elements

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