The naming of chemical elements follows certain conventions and is governed by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC). These naming conventions are based on historical and scientific factors, and changes to element names are relatively rare.
The element helium was named after the Greek word "helios," meaning sun, because it was first discovered in the sun's spectrum before it was identified on Earth. It has been widely accepted and established in scientific literature and everyday usage for a long time. Changing the name of an element requires a significant scientific consensus and a formal process through the IUPAC.
The naming scheme for noble gases, including helium, is based on the -on suffix, which denotes the gaseous state of an element at standard temperature and pressure. However, the naming of helium predates the establishment of this convention. It's worth noting that elements such as neon, argon, krypton, and xenon were discovered and named before the noble gas naming convention was established.
Changing the name of an element like helium would be a complex and lengthy process involving scientific debate, consensus-building, and potential confusion in scientific literature and education. Additionally, element names are deeply ingrained in scientific and everyday language, and altering them could create unnecessary confusion and disrupt established understanding.
Overall, while the idea of renaming an element to fit a specific naming convention may seem logical, it is not a straightforward process, and there are significant historical, scientific, and practical considerations involved in altering element names.