If you’re a science student, being able to remember The Periodic Table of The Elements by heart is extremely handy…you can to some degree predict the chemical properties of an element based on its location in the table, making it easier balancing chemical equations, estimate solubilities etc. etc.
To memorize the periodic table we’ll use a technique known as acrostic mnemonics. In short you’ll create rhymes whose first letters are associated with the chemical elements latin names combined with a repetition technique used by many actors to memorize their lines.
First of all…You don’t need to memorize the whole periodic table with it’s 117 elements. Some of the elements are synthetic elements that have been produced artificially in particle accelerators, they’re short-lived and you’ll most likely never have to deal with them in a lab, an assignment or the like. Therefore…forget about the elements with an atomic number ranging from 104-118. This leaves us with 102 elements.
You don’t come across the lanthanides and the actinides that often either so, for now, forget about them too. We’re now down to 72 elements.
Secondly…memorize the latin names for the elements, e.g. sodium (Natrium), potassium (Kalium), gold (Aurum) etc. It’s not hard to memorize the latin names, - what’s hard is to memorize the whole of the periodic table and the location of the various elements. Besides…if you’re a science student, you’ll work with or read about the elements on a daily basis, and you’ll soon learn their latin names.
Thirdly…start out with the elements in group 1,2 and 13-18.
OK…let’s start:
Rows are arranged so that elements with similar properties fall into the same vertical columns called groups (18 in all). Start out with one group at a time and create rhymes whose first letters are associated with the chemical elements latin names.
E.g. :
Group 1. Harry Little Nailed Karl Rubens Cars Frequently. (Hydrogen Lithium Natrium Kalium Rubidium Caesium Francium).
To memorize this rhyme repeat like this: Harry…Harry Little…Harry Little Nailed…Harry Little Nailed Karl…Harry Little Nailed Karl Rubens….etc etc. Within 30 seconds you’ll be able to recite the rhyme and, in turn, group 1 of the periodic table. Repeating the rhyme in this manner is the most important part of this technique!!!!
Group 2. Berry Macgregor Carried Stripper Babe Rachel. (Beryllium Magnesium Calcium Strontium Barium Radium).
Again…to memorize the rhyme repeat: Berry…Berry Macgregor…Berry Macgregor Carried…Berry Macgregor Carried Stripper…etc. etc.
What you should do now is to repeat the rhyme for group 1 and the rhyme for group 2…e.g. Harry….Harry Little…Harry Little Nailed….->Harry Little Nailed Karl Rubens Cars Frequently (while) Berry Macgregor Carried Stripper Babe Rachel.
You’ve now managed memorize all the elements in group 1 and 2. Do same for group 13-18 and you’ve managed to memorize the “most important”elements of the periodic table…or should I say…the ones you’ll be dealing with most frequently.
Remember to repeat rhyme 1, rhyme 1 and 2, rhyme 1, 2 and 3 etc etc.
If you care to, you can do the same with the transition metals in group 3-12…and the lanthanides (Ladies Can’t Put Nickels Properly into Slot-machines. Every Girl Tries Daily, However, Every Time You Look) (rhyme taken from Wikipedia) and the actinides.
When you’ve created the rhymes memorizing them shouldn’t take you more than a good 30 minutes…
Please note that English is not my mother tongue, and I’m certain you guys can come up with better rhymes than I did.
Enjoy…
130 Comments
hey Madeson, i really surprised ur way to memorize periodic table!!
could u show me ur phrase from group 13 to 18, please
thank you for these tips. you and stripper babe rachel helped me pass my stupid quiz today. i thought i’d also share the sentences I came up with for the other main group elements:
Group 13 Birmingham Alabama Gardens Into Toledo (Boron Aluminum Gallium Indium Thallium)
Group 14 Cosmin’s Sister Gertrude Snacks PeanutButter (Carbon, Silicon, Germanium, Tin, Lead)
Group 15 Nine Pidgeons Assist Snowboarding Birds (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Arsenic, Antimony, Bismuth)
Group 16 Orange Sherbet Selected Tea Pots (Oxygen, Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium, Polonium
Group 17 Flying Clawed Brass Iguanas Attack (Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Astatine)
Group 18 Heavy Nerds Are Krafting Xenophobic Renagades (Helium Neon Argon Krypton Xenon Radon)
You’re welcome Gabriel…glad you passed your quiz! And thx. for the sentences you came up with…appreciated!
Very outstanding!
Thanks!
AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! my head hurts!!!!!!!!
stupid stupid!!!!!!!!!!
i still don’t get it!!!!!!!!!!
w0w!! even i don’t really get it but i’m sure it will help me on my stupid quiz and exam some day!
i will mastered it for sure
It will help you one day Jeiron…give it a try
omg this helps so much!!! im trying to memorize it this summer so i wont be so stressed out about it when school starts. stupid acrostics that make no sense seem to stick with me very well and this is awesome! thank you soooooooo much!!!!
Well…thank you Katie….glad you found the method usefull and cared to tell me about it…appreciated! Good luck
wow! it really help me how i can easily memorize the periodic table!! tnxx
thanks for this!!!
Glad you found it useful jecille…and thx for commenting…appreciated
WOW. Thanks for this. This is so awesome. I’ll try and make my own acronyms! XD
Glad you liked it Rhenn…Good luck
May someone please share rhymes for GROUP 3-12
I need it for my quiz…
Thanks!!!
i have a quiz later gudluck weeeee!!!!
wow this seems good but its just the fact that it doesnt rhyme that gets to me
It`s a pretty good idea, bt there`s no rythme…. therefore, feeling so tough to memmorize..
Wow! This is great stuff!! I have to give it to you! You’re a genius! Thanks for the help:)
thanks gabriel and madsen! so helpfl!
You’re welcome…glad you found it useful
im tring to do my project in science and i hope this helps. if it does i want to thank you ssosososososooooooo much
Let me know how it went…good luck
thank you for this wonderful tip !
You’re welcome ching…glad you found it useful and thx for commenting
thanks it helped
Good to hear ricky…and thx for the feedback
Great! Helped a lot! Now I’m sure to pass freshmen year haha!
Great tip!
Woohoo…excellent Darla! Go you!
this helped a lot thanks! i have a test in 2 days. could you give me acronoyms for rows 3-12???
Let me know how the test turned out Ashley
Regarding the transition metals (rows 3-12)…I hardly ever came across them in inorganic chemistry courses, or hardly ever had to deal with them when solving chemistry problems…I did however memorize the oxidation stated of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Cd, Au, Hg and skipped the rest…As for acronyms…I have some but they are in Danish so…
These rules were pretty handy for me when I took a course in inorg. chemistry…(copy/paste from wiki)
Rules for Calculating the Oxidation Number:
1. Any pure element has an Oxidation Number (ON) of 0. Examples of this would be Cu or O2.
2. For monotomic ions the ON is the same as the charge of the ion. For example S2- has an ON of -2, whereas Li1+ has an ON of +2.
3. Rules for elements that have the same ON in almost all their compounds:
* Hydrogen usually has an ON of +1, unless it’s combined with a metal, then it’s -1
* All halogens have an ON of -1, unless they are combined with another halogen higher than them on the periodic table (with Fluorine being the highest).
* Oxygen has an ON of -2, except in peroxides (e.g. Hydrogen Peroxide H2O2 when it has ON of -1.
* Elements of the group/column 6A (e.g. Oxygen, Sulfur, Selenium, etc.) have ON -2 unless they’re combined with Oxygen or a halogen during which time they take on positive ONs.:
1. The sum of ONs for all atoms in a molecule or polyatomic ion is equal to the charge of the molecule or ion. For example, in SO3, the whole charge of the ion is -2, so the ON of S is +4 and the ON of each O atom is -2 (+4 + 3(-2) = -2).
Good luck!
Cool! Memorized it in 30 minutes. Need it for our test TOMORROW. It’s a retest actually, and I got eighteen out of 45 on the last
. So I gotta pass this one. haha 
Total cramming. Eh, anyway, I study in a science high school, and our country’s regarded it as the best school in our, er, country. So it’s no wonder I crammed, grrr, got many assignments to finish. Thanks anyway, Madsen. 
So, Madsen, what’s your e-mail? I gotta thank you for this. Don’t worry I’m no crook. I’m just a half-Australian bud, ‘kay?
For the next time, people, see y’all! This is anartori, signing out!! xD
So, um, Madsen, I’ll just report tomorrow about my score. And I got a feelin’ I gotta thank you for my score!!
Ahhh. Cooly awesome life. It’s hot.
Hey this is my official name now, ‘kay? Am gonna subscribe in this website, Madsen. You better thank me back.
This is the “former” RIANA AKA–ANARTORI, ‘kay? Thanks y’all!
Remember the Australian crook, once and for all!!!
: 
This is brilliant! Thanks for this, it really did help, not really memorizing but knowing what they are, you know? Because I have Dislexiya looking at a perodic table is really challenging, but you made it way simpilar. Thank’s again.
–Jordan. ♥
Thank you Jordan…Glad to hear you found it helpful…and thx for coming back and commenting…appreciated
Hey, I PASSSEDDDD!
Why doesn’t my comment appear?
That’s great Anartori…congrats…well done!!!
Well, thanks, Madsen, I’ve got something to finally brag about to the Dean’s Listers!!!!
Trying to memorise it right now. Tomorrow I will have a quiz about this.
So far I am doing well.
Could anyone post the acronyms for 3-12?
omg. thankyouthankyouthankyou<3
this mnemonics thing helped me soo much!!!
im so happy!! i got into acceleray]ted science!!!
yooooou genius.
thnkyouuuuu!
Group 3- ScalY
Sc- Scandium, Y-Yttrium
Group 4-Timothy Zarol Huffed at Raffy.
Tin, Zirconium, Hafnium, Rutherfordium
Group 5-Vally Nobel Tailed Deborah.
Vanadium, Niobium, Tantalum, Dubnium
Group 6-Carl Monitored Wally Sagor.
Chromium, Molybdenum, Tungsten, Seaborgium
Still working in the other group’s kinks.
Madsen, please make me a website too, please, the “free one”, or at least tell me how too, the “dk” stuff, because I have websitse, yeah, but they have URLs and stuff like “example.WEBS.com”
Can you please make me one PLEASE or at least tell me how to PRETTY PLEASE
Glad you found it useful youKnowME
Can’t really help you with a dk domain….I’d suggest you go to Wordpress, and get a free website there…by far the easiest solution for you.
hey does anyone of u know the acrostic name for chlorine
??????????
Y? Do you have to pay with it, Madsen?
No…check out the site…it’s a free service!
thanks for helping in remembering names of all these stupid elements .
can u tell us a way to remember names of transition metals in a serieswis not groupwise
can u tell me how to memorize names of transition metals series wise
You’re welcome…Regarding the transition metals…why not use the same method as with the rest of the elements?
Thanks for posting these! They helped so much!!
Do you have an abbreviation for the Actinoid Series?
Hi Krystal…you’re welcome;-) Unfortunately I don’t have any for the actinoids, but it should be that hard to come up with a good rhyme:
89Ac 90Th 91Pa 92U 93Np 94Pu 95Am 96Cm 97Bk 98Cf 99Es 100Fm 101Md 102No 103Lr
Achilles The Passionate Unibrow …etc etc…something silly…makes it easier to remember.
Good luck
i need to study this very hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
“harry little nailed karl” LOL….
it’s very hard to remember the periodic table
I’m a Nursing student and I’m being forced to take a chemistry refresher. I despise Chemistry with every fiber of my being. Your mnemonic method was fantastic…my entire study group broke down the chart and created our own devices. Thank you!
Hi Jen…You’re welcome…glad you found the method useful and thx. for coming back and commenting…You just made my day
Good luck with the course!
OMG!! This helped me so so much. Thank you. You’re the best!
Woohoo…excellent Sarah…glad to hear…and thx for comming back and commenting…appreciated!
Thanks soo much Madsen! This really helped!! I had been trying to memorise the periodic table.. but all my efforts went in vain!!!
Thank you soo much!
Hi Vandy…Great!!!! Glad to hear…way to go…And thx for coming back and commenting…thanks
Very good tip
thanks man
You’re welcome Will
If you want to memorise them in order of 1-103 I have a rhyme for the first 17
Harry HE LIkes BEar, Because Connor Not Only Found NEd NAked, MyGosh ALice Sings Peacfully Said CLarice.
this stuff helps im going to use it thanks a lot man ur awesome.
You’re welcome Kaleb
am unable to remember it
can any one help me plzzzzzzzzzzz 
this soundslike i will help alot
how aout the first 20?
e.g. h,he,li,be,b,c,n,o,f,ne,na,e.t.c
Awesome work man!!
@ Rujnab
http://www.theallineed.com/videos/lithi-song-118-elements/kPxiPwjQod8&feature=youtube_gdata/
not cool
Hi , what is a good sentence for learning chemical elements 21-30. The first two i learnt were:
Harry he likes beer bottled cold not overly frofy.
Nelly nanny might although silly person she climbs around kinky caves.
(kinda lame i know but it was the first one i came accross and has worked for me). thanks
Good Work
Thank you Qasim!
Period #10: Achilles The Passionate Underwood is a No_Problem Pussy cat; American Cameron went to Berkeley California; likewise Einstein, Famous Mendeleev, Nobel prize winner Lawrence.
(Ac Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr)
(Actinium, Thorium, Protactinium, Uranium, Neptunium, Plutonium, Americium, Curium, Berkelium, Californium, Einsteinium, Fermium, Mendelevium, Nobleium, Lawrencium)
Na is sodium not natrium…
Na is called natrium in most countries…at least in those where English isn’t the main language…
Hi,
How i remember whole perodic table.
like songs,funny sentences.
Please give me songs,funny sentences.
Hi Madsen, can you make me some examples of group 3-12….
because I can’t make my own Rhyme….
and I want to memorize it earlier so
I can pass my quiz….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-WmcJJH_7w
hope this helps.
Watch this its a song and catchy
nice n really useful to memorize the long form of periodic table
Thanks, this seems really silly, but helps a lot. I came up with:
13: Borris ALways Gave IN TaLl
14: Can Sick GEntlemen SNiff lead?
15: Never Practice Arsine SillyBoy BIggs
16: Only Simple, SEnsitive TEachers PerfOrm
17: Fraggles CLot BRown In AuTumn
Good ones Dieter…thx!
Hey! Thanks sooooo much for this it helped me get a perfect score in my STEWPIDDD quiz today. :)) Thanks alot! :))i appreciate it. More power!
Holy smokes Bea…well done…congrats…glad you found it usefull!
When I was in Physical Science in high school, one of my classmates had the periodic table memorized that if you asked him anything about an element (e.g. what group is radium in an what’s its atomic number) he would tell me. Since we both moved on in our lives and are unable to communicate with each other anymore, I Googled “How to memorize the elements of the periodic Table” and was taken here. Your mnemonics REALLY help me. Thanks!
Thank you Donald…Glad you found it useful, and thx for commenting…appreciated!
got a rhyme for group one!
Help LIlf NAtures Kelp RuBing CaSes (of) FReight (cars) ( H, Li Na K Rb Cs Fr)
this helped a lot!!!!!!!!! Thank you!
btw if anyone is trying to memorize the odd transition metals at period 4 chromium to zinc.
CRazy MeN FEel COol NIce CUte ZeN
You’re welcome Brian…thx for commenting
i can give you more hints to remember
1 group;heroes like nag and kalyan are both friends
2group;bellys mug can strongly bare radium
13th group;bal ganesh in tailand
17th;fast and cool brahmi in athadu
by the way ur great
hi my name is
S T VCrMn FeCoNiCuZn
i.e scandium titanium venadium cromium mangneese iron cobalt nickel copper zinc
howzzzzzzzzzz thaaaaaaat haaa?
man u rock
thank you for these tricky rhymes,
i have alredy these.
so i want more tricks about actinide series element.
thanks for the help…
it helps…
thanks for this…
i just hope my peers can read this too…
can someone make a sentence for group 3-4?
Hello,
I have a test tomoro and I have a lot memorized. Memorization is hard for me because I have a concussion. I was wondering if you (or anyone) could make a rhyme line by line horizontally starting with row 3 then 4 then 5 then 6 then 7 then lanthanides then actinides? Please I really need some help!
this helps alot! can you post one for the Lanthanide series? i need it for a test coming up. Thanks!
omg !! Thankk youuu sooo muchh haha I wrote every single onee of those rhymes down & I soo got it ! Thanks Again !!!!
But IF I won’t pass it , guess that’ll be my fault since I didn’t try enough ! Haha # Juss Sayinn ‘
You’re welcome Tiffany…Good luck
OMG, this helped me sooo much. Thank god I found you. This will defiantly make me pass my AP test.
thanks
Hi Carly…thx…glad you found something of use
Let us know how your AP test went.
I got 62/63
I only missing one. I only missed BK. But I’m still happy with my score 
thankss.
thanks all of u ,, I really get way to memorize all the elements name mentioned in periodic table ,, thanks a lots to all who make funny rhymes to memorize all the elements name ,,, know I think I easily can remember all the elements & specially thanks to Madsen who gives way to memorize thanks !
Excellent Carly…congrats
Thank you Laxmi
i just started doin chem but pliz help me i dont get it:oops:
but it seems cool though
You saved my life!
Any time Yernom…any time
hey thanks very much.. now i can screw even my chem teachers.. lol
How to remember the first 20 elements of the periodic table in order, with their symbols:
Harry (Hydrogen [H])
He (Helium[He])
Likes (Lithium[Li])
Beautiful (Beryllium[Be])
Big (Boron[B])
Cars (Carbon [C]) Be careful! Do not get Carbon Confused with Calcium.
Not (Nitrogen[N])
Overly (Oxygen [O])
Fast (Fluorine [F])
Never (Neon [Ne])
Nasty (Sodium [Na])
Mgs (Magnesium [Mg])
Although (Aluminium [Al])
Silly (Silicon [Si])
People (Phosphorus [P])
Still (Sulfur [S])
Cling (Chlorine [Cl])
Around (Argon [Ar])
Kevin’s (Potassium [K])
Cadillac (Calcium [Ca])
Hope this helps!!
xoxo
hey please give me rhymes for group 1 a to 8 please its urgent!!!!!
i need em for my quiz
thanks
Thx! This helped a lot but I still. Don’t. Get. THE. POINT. OF. IT. ALL! my science teacher hates me for saying this too much and getting on her nerves, but no matter! I WILL pass this test on Friday!!! Wish me luck!!!!
hloo……itz an ordinary table……im not getting it….sory
Thanks a lot
really useful….!!!!!!!
msy i piont out that this is only PART if the peodic table. ur taken out quite a bit. therefore it is not the WHOLE thing. the whole peodic tabble is all 118 elements not 72. plz forgive my terrable typing skills xD i am not meaning to be rude in any way just making a point.
this really helped me …thank u allot.
im doing exams in joinan this a real start to passing chemistry thanks allot…i know im gonna pass it with beautiful colour…wish me much luck as possible. thanks
Good luck Lovely
You’re welcome Davzz
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