Scientists must find new names for the elements but, also, they must suggest two-letter symbols for the elements. When IUPAC has received the researchers’ suggestions, they will tell the public so that people can comment on the names. That allows scientists and others to find any problems with the names. In 1996, someone suggested the symbol Cp for copernicium, or element 112, but it was changed to Cn, when scientists complained that Cp was already the symbol for another substance.
Why is the public involved in the element symbol-naming process?
To see if there are issues with or opposition to a proposed symbol To source suggestions for symbol names To avoid complaints about overinvolvement of scientists To get the public more excited about scientific discovery