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…
20 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
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