How Do You Memorize the Elements?
Thursday September 4, 2008
One common chemistry class assignment is memorizing the elements. I don't think too many teachers make students learn the entire periodic table, but you'll usually have to know the first few rows. You can use flashcards to memorize the symbols of the elements. A lot of people use a mnemonic to help them remember the order of the elements. For example, a mnemonic for the first nine elements is:
Happy Henry Likes Beer But Could Not Obtain Food
I'm pretty sure there are better mnemonics out there (funny or easier to remember), but I haven't come across any that stand out in the crowd. Do you know a better mnemonic? Can you think of a better way to memorize the elements? If so, post a reply.
Happy Henry Likes Beer But Could Not Obtain Food
I'm pretty sure there are better mnemonics out there (funny or easier to remember), but I haven't come across any that stand out in the crowd. Do you know a better mnemonic? Can you think of a better way to memorize the elements? If so, post a reply.
Comments
Very timely, my son just started chemistry class at high school, having done general science stuff up to now (he’s almost 14) I’ll pass these on for him…he wasn’t too keen to have a PT on his bedroom wall among his Ferraris, fighter jets and Bart Simpson!
How ’bout that old Tom Lehrer song about the elements? I just spent a lot of time looking at periodic tables as well learning interesting things about many elements. There’s an Oliver Sacks book, Uncle Tungsten on his interest in the elements, too. A good read.
BTW,
Your mnemonic should go one more and finish the shell/period with neon. Maybe “normally” would work. I’m not much into mnemonics, but I do like that fella Roy G. Biv.
And why is Henry happy if he can’t get any food?
These are the two I learnt at school (and still remember forty years down the track)
Little Betty Botter Can Not Often Faint Neatly
Naughty Maggie Always Sits Pondering Silently - Clever Ain’t-she
I have a story which will help you learn the first 46 symbols.
cabouaf@hartdistrict.org