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Why chrysene?

Graphene isn’t called carbonene, but, via graphite, indirectly derived from the Greek word γράφειν (to write)

To be consistent, they’d derive from the Greek word for gold, which is [1] χρυσός (chrysós).

[1] or at least similar to. My greek isn’t good, and that’s an understatement.

Graphite is a pretty common word, and it's easy to make the connection between that and what graphene is. Same goes for gold and goldene. Not so much for chrysos and chrysene.

The point of systematic naming is predictability through consistency, not appealing to the lowest common denominator.

But Sweden isn’t exactly known for its stellar educational system, so it doesn’t surprise me that their chemists don’t learn Greek.

Ancient Greece wasn't known for its great chemical industry.

Tell that to IUPAC, I don’t make the rules.

The most Greek a chemistry student in the states would get is from frat parties

Aurene then, from Latin aurum. Also, in Spanish áureo it's still used as 'golden'.

It sounds cooler

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