thallium (Tl)

Term: thallium (Tl)

Literally meaning: “pertaining to green young shoot ”

Origin:

Origin: Anc Greek

θαλλός/thallos(=young shoot, green branch, twig) > θρέφω/threpho(=feed)

The element named because of  the bright green line in its spectrum

Coined/History

The element was found and named by Sir William Crookes (1832-1919) and independently by Claude-Auguste Lamy in 1861.  Thallium used to poison rodents but nowadays it is prohibited.  

Sources

William Crookes, On the Existence of a New Element, probably of the Sulphur Group, The Chemical News, vol III, No 69, March 30, 1861

John Emsley, The Trouble with Thallium, New Scientist, vol 79 No 1115, 10 August 1978, p 392.

Definition

Thallium is a chemical element with atomic number 81 and atomic mass 204.3833.  Its oxide is used to make glass that has a high index of refraction.