From balangaw + sipat. Coined by Lupon sa Agham (Committee on Science) in the Maugnaying Talasalitaang Pang-agham : Ingles-Pilipino (Correlative Word List for Sciences : English-Filipino), published in 1969 and edited by Gonsalo del Rosario. This term fell under the Kublupon sa Kapnayan (Subcommittee on Chemistry), headed by Roberto B. Torres.