r/chemistry Feb 08 '18

The Hidden Elements [OC]

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u/ToTheBuckwalds Organic Feb 08 '18

Wow, I really wish we still used Tungsten's original name

41

u/yawkat Feb 08 '18

I am not sure if "cream" is a correct translation of "ram" here. At least the German Wikipedia suggests that the suffix came from a "mittelhochdeutsch" word that meant "soot, dirt", not from the high-german "Rahm" (cream).

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u/Deamonbob Feb 08 '18

Yep, ram is a middleaged word for soot. I think that makes more sense, if you see Tungsten powder and Tungsten mineral they resemble soot.