What's the point of learning the periodic table?

Question

Some chemistry teachers ask students to remember, in order, the elements of the periodic table. What's the point of this? Isn't the periodic table supposed to be used as a reference to look up things if you forget?

For all you chemists; is it really that useful to "remember" the periodic table?

Answer 1

I am a Chemistry major in college, and it's really only necessary to be familiar with the abbreviations (W is tungsten, etc.) and group number (which indicates the number of electrons in the valence shell of the atom) of elements, and memorize the amu of about the first eighteen elements.

Answer 2

Why you learn the Periodic table? The reason is because you'll need to know this for Chemistry and its not that hard either. Whats to learn in the Periodic Table? Well the Table is arranged by increasing atomic number (number of protons). Also there are periods that are in the rows of the table, the groups are the columns. There are symbols in the table, some are in Greek like Hg and K. There is also the atomic mass, which is a value that depends on the distribution of an element's isotopes (how common) in nature and the masses of those isotopes. Elements are arranged are metals, metalloids and nonmetals (left to right) and also by Solids, liquids, and gases. Elements from 1B-7B are called transition metals. Group 1A-7A are called (in order from 1-7) are Alkali Metals, Allkaline Earth metals, Boron Family, Carbon Family, Nitrogen Family, Oxygen family, Halogens Family, and Noble gases.

Answer 3

That is one thing that I had to remember and I still to this day don't know why I ever needed to learn it. It is just like history, I don't use it in my everyday life, just like geometry. The only thing I can say is if someone is going into a field regarding science, then yes, it is a useful thing. Sometimes I wonder if the teachers really know what they are doing nowadays as the educational system has eliminated spelling and grammar as part of an English lesson. And believe me, the kids today need to upgrade their spelling and grammar.

Answer 4

I always remember the first 10 in order and the last 10 in order. I have found that after school was completed, I never had any reason for the memorization. None!

Answer 5

Studies have shown, even if you are learning pointless things, the learning exercises your brain and helps increase your smartness. Also if you are dating somebody later in life and they are a chemist then you could start up a conversation with them, so its a good thing to know a lot of stuff.

Answer 6

If you know how things re-act with each other and how them combine physically and chemically, then you can do any number of things from energy resource development to medical drug development and many other high-paying jobs that benefit the community and the world.

If all that fails, you can always become a science teacher.

Answer 7

Yes of course..like the alphabet and math you learnt as a child.It is organised in an order that will help instill in your mind..Logic..so you can reason..logically.It's hard..but what isn't? you will understand all too soon.Give it a chance...Chemistry,Man is a cool thing to know.Good Luck.

Answer 8

It is important to understand the principles upon which it is constructed. frequent use of it will result in your remembering those parts which are of value to you. In general, not just in Chemistry but in all branches of knowledge, understanding is the key not just a demonstration of mental retention.