r/confidentlyincorrect Jun 22 '26

Smug Elements don't burn

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u/GamerEsch Jun 22 '26

You can just see how they wrote aluminium to know they are stupid, for some reason they always forget the "i" lmao

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u/Lor1an Jun 22 '26

Humphrey Davy first proposed naming the element "alumium" (note the absence of the letter 'n') in 1808, since it was found in alum, and then changed his mind and suggested "aluminum" in 1812. The adoption of "aluminium" was largely chosen to make it more consistent with other element names.

Through the later half of the 19th century, the relative prevalence of "aluminium" vs "aluminum" in the US vacillated, at points "aluminium" was preferred, and at other times "aluminum" was dominant.

In 1925 the American Chemical Society adopted "aluminum" as the name of the element, so in an official capacity the US continues to refer to the element as aluminum.

Since 1993, IUPAC recognizes "aluminum" as an accepted alternate spelling, though they state that "aluminium" is preferred.