Solution to Fusion

Jeff Filippini

This is a crossword in which each word can be spelled uniquely as a series of chemical element symbols (elements are clued by the title, "Fusion"). Symbols are taken from the most recent IUPAC nomenclature, also available at WebElements.

The completed grid is given below.

WAtErDyNe ReBaTeHePt Ar C H
As I O KAt AgAm
P I KErAu B URn HAl OGe N
CAtTi LaEr Rn U
He BRe WSm IThEr S V IXe N
Mo YCa ILa Tc P
S O UNdPr O O F VAl HAlLa
Y I I U S YTe
NAtCe N C HRu SCa P ITa N
ThBe I AcRe RaCa
EsCaRgAt O IRe SCr O F ULa
IRe U F O Al I
SIr I U S F IRe WAl KEr S

Once the grid is complete, "fuse" the elements from squares of the same color — find the chemical element whose atomic number is the sum of the atomic numbers of those elements.

O+F=ClH+B=CO+Dy=WHe+Be=CS+Te=Er
H+N=OC+Al=KV+Sm=AtH=HO+O=S

When placed in the order of the color bar below the grid, these give the following:

ClOCKWAtCHErS

The answer is CLOCKWATCHERS.

2006 MIT Mystery Hunt