kliru, sodna, navni, etc.

[Stephen David Simmons <ssimmons@pcisys.net>]

I have been working on translating chemical element articles on the 
lojban wikipedia, and Pier has brought up an interesting point, which I 
think wider circulation is called for.

In discussing the periodic table, and the elements, one commonly refers 
to element groups, which are typically the elements within a column., as 
well has elements  [Note: "group" refers to an ordered sequence of 
elements with similar properties, that also generally share a geometric 
arrangement within the periodic table].  Some of these element groups 
have gismu representing them:

sodna - alkali metals - default sodium
kliru - halogens - default chlorine
navni - nobel gases - default neon

If we are to distinguish between the meaning of "halogen" and the 
meaning of "chlorine" should we develop a lujvo for the sequence of 
chlorine-like atoms (inluding fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, or 
astatine), or should we develop a lujvo for chlorine independent of 
halogens in general.  I don't think it is appropriate to rely on context 
to decide.

jbovlaste has "kliru" <-> "chlorine" and "selkliru" <-> "halogen type".  
I don't see "selkliru" coming into common usage.  I have assumed that 
the appropriate words would be "kliru" <-> "chlorine" and "klirypoi" <-> 
"halogen".  Perhaps, a lujvo should be used to enforce the default.

Similar arguments apply to "sodna", resulting in "sodnypoi"; the 
generalized classes of alkalis, including all basic substances is 
referred to as "jilka".   For the alkalines, I've been using "mlijilpoi" 
to represent the alkaline earths, as they are milder forms of the 
alkalis.   Perhaps that should be "mlisodnypoi" instead, because to 
allow "jilka" to be more of an opposite of "slami".

I also use "binjinpoi" for the "transition metals", as they are between 
the alkali/alkalines and the non-metal/metalloids/near metals; and 
"cnobinjinpoi" for the actinides/lanthanides, as they are part of the 
period that adds electrons in deeply buried subshells; and "jbijinpoi" 
for poor-metals or near-metals such as tin and aluminum (this class is 
somewhat artificial, and the English language group has already 
recognized "poor" as a bad distinguishing characteristic); and 
"si'irjinpoi" for the coinage metals (copper, silver, and gold); and 
ninpoi for the noble gases.

Other groups are typically named for the lightest element in the group.

I considered using "girzu" and "klesi" instead of "porsi", but they 
don't imply an intrinsic ordering that "porsi" implies.  I also tend to 
think of "girzu" refering to a group of individual atoms, as one might 
think of mixtures, solutions, alloys, or

In addition, there are two groups within the transition metals which 
aren't so much ordered vertically as spatially; these are the platinum 
group and the refractory metals.  For these, I think usage of klesi may 
make more sense.  Other groupings of elements are based on the phase of 
matter (solid, liquid, gas); whether they are half metals, mostly 
metallic, or non-metallic, whether they are radioactive or not, etc.  I 
think klesi makes sense for these as well.

Does this seem like a reasonable usage?  Are these lujvo too broad for 
these meanings?  Within wikipedia, there are a variety of usages, that 
reflect the evolution of my thoughts, and I felt it was appropriate to 
get a broader consensus before systematizing them, in case the basis is 
poor.

--Stephen Simmons