what is the best way to memorize the table of the elements?

Question

I probably should say "easiest way"...

This is NOT just for fun - it's a requirement for a college course.

Answer 1

All of the chemistry classes that I've ever taken, in high school and college, never expected us to memorize it. I doubt that you'll need to. Just about every chem lab has the periodic table on one of the walls to.

Answer 2

I am assuming you have to do this for a class?

Do you have to memorize the exact order of the table or just certain elements and the symbols?

If its the later then come up with mnemonic devices for the hard ones. Some are easy O for oxygen C for carbon, He for helium, etc. Some that I used for less obvious elements are
A U got any gold.
TIn is a SiN (Sn)
Hello Goodbye Mercury Hg (it doesn't make any sense but it worked)

If you have to memorize the whole table I don't know what to say except its not very practical. The whole idea behind the table is that its a quick reference so you don't have to memorize every element and their order. In stead of trying to memorize they table you should spend time learning how use it quickly and effectively. If you use it a lot then you start to naturally learn where certain elements are.

Answer 3

I adore the Tom Lehrer song, but it's no good for the layout and order.

There's a great trick my Chem teacher has to remember the first
seventeen elements in order:

He likes beer but cannot obtain food
(He Li Be B C N O F)

Nee namagal sip skull
(Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl)

To this day it's not uncommon to hear someone at the back of the class mutter "Namagal sipskull..." trying to work out which group an element is in. It doesn't really mean anything but if you say it over and over it's easier to remember than the individual symbols. Hope that helps!

Answer 4

It's easier to memorize things when they're set to music, so try memorizing the Tom Lehrer song about the elements. (I think he goes all the way through plutonium; the song was written back in the seventies, so it may not have all the man made elements since then. But this should at least be a start.)

Answer 5

I don't think that there is any good way, and in general it isn't particularly useful to do so. My Handbook of Chemistry and Physics has a periodic table inside the front cover, and complete descriptions of the elements inside, so one can look up anything needed easily. Anyone doing anything in science should have a copy of this book. It is revised annually, and although the current edition is expensive (US$140), older editions, adequate for most purposes, can be had for considerably less money.

Answer 6

here is the start
H Hi
He Here
Li Little
Be Beggar
B Boys
C catch
N Newts
O Or
F Fish
Ne New
Na Nature
Mg Magnifies
Al All
Si Sins
P P.
S S.

You can think of the rest. Memory experts recommend making these ditties very personal or some times a little rude. (hence why I wont share the rest of my method :-).

Once you have it memorized by ascending atomic number learn a few group in descending order this way you can quickly sketch out the table and double check e.g
Group 6
O Operating
S System
Se See's
Te Tellytubby
Po Po

Answer 7

I wouldn't! You can always look up the atomic masses on the periodic table.

To memorize the names of the elements just takes a bit of practice. Maybe flash cards.

Answer 8

Learn 5 elements a day. anyone can learn five things in one day. Then in a few days you will have the entire table memorized.

Answer 9

I taught my sister through calcium when she was 6 years old.
Using flash cards.

The best way is the same way you learn peoples names. Focus on the idiosyncracies like potassium is K (latin Kalium-used in Europe) Sodium is Natrium, Tungsten is Wolfram, gold is Aurum

Learn the properties of the alkali metals, alkaline earths, inert gases, halogens. They are families; learn their personalities.
You'll pick up lots of facts that will help you in chemistry.

Answer 10

If there were an "easy" way, you wouldn't be asking. I'm glad I never had to memorize all of it at one time!