Ununquadium
. Element 114, also called ununquadium (Uuq), chemical element with atomic number 114. Each atom of the element has a nucleus, or central core, containing positively charged particles called protons and neutral particles called neutrons (see Atom ). The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of any element determines the element’s atomic number. Thus the nucleus of an atom of ununquadium contains 114 protons. The element is not found in nature but can be produced artificially by nuclear fusion (process in which a chemical element with larger atoms is produced by fusing together two smaller atoms of other elements). Atoms of ununquadium quickly decay into atoms of elements containing fewer protons and neutrons. Ununquadium is a temporary name assigned according to a system that uses Latin prefixes for the atomic number (un = 1, quad = 4), followed by the suffix -ium. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry will approve a permanent name for element 114 after its dis...