How to memorize The Periodic Table of The Elements in less than 30 minutes

If youre a science student, being able to remember The Periodic Table of The Elements by heart is extremely handyyou 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 well use a technique known as acrostic mnemonics. In short youll 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 allYou dont need to memorize the whole periodic table with its 117 elements. Some of the elements are synthetic elements that have been produced artificially in particle accelerators, theyre short-lived and youll most likely never have to deal with them in a lab, an assignment or the like. Thereforeforget about the elements with an atomic number ranging from 104-118. This leaves us with 102 elements. You dont come across the lanthanides and the actinides that often either so, for now, forget about them too. Were now down to 72 elements. Secondlymemorize the latin names for the elements, e.g. sodium (Natrium), potassium (Kalium), gold (Aurum) etc. Its not hard to memorize the latin names, - whats hard is to memorize the whole of the periodic table and the location of the various elements. Besidesif youre a science student, youll work with or read about the elements on a daily basis, and youll soon learn their latin names. Thirdlystart out with the elements in group 1,2 and 13-18. OKlets 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: HarryHarry LittleHarry Little NailedHarry Little Nailed KarlHarry Little Nailed Karl Rubens.etc etc. Within 30 seconds youll 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). Againto memorize the rhyme repeat: BerryBerry MacgregorBerry Macgregor CarriedBerry Macgregor Carried Stripperetc. etc.
What you should do now is to repeat the rhyme for group 1 and the rhyme for group 2 e.g. Harry.Harry

LittleHarry Little Nailed.->Harry Little Nailed Karl Rubens Cars Frequently (while) Berry Macgregor Carried Stripper Babe Rachel. Youve now managed memorize all the elements in group 1 and 2. Do same for group 13-18 and youve managed to memorize the most importantelements of the periodic tableor should I saythe ones youll 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 3-12and the lanthanides (Ladies Cant Put Nickels Properly into Slot-machines. Every Girl Tries Daily, However, Every Time You Look) (rhyme taken from Wikipedia) and the actinides. When youve created the rhymes memorizing them shouldnt take you more than a good 30 minutes Please note that English is not my mother tongue, and Im certain you guys can come up with better rhymes than I did. Enjoy