How do I memorize the periodic table by their groups and properties, and individual atomic #, atomic weight?

Question

I think if there's anything useful to memorize, it is the periodic table. I'd like to be able to talk about elements which are Alkalis · Alkaline earths · Lanthanides · Actinides · Transition metals · Poor metals · Metalloids · Nonmetals · Halogens · Noble gases. Any clues how to go to about it? I tried making Mnemonics but then I can't come up with words that make sense make pertain to the periodic table.
I'd love to be a nerd about Chemistry and not have to look up the table to solve problems.

Answer 1

Because there are so many relationshipsaccording to column, it might be best to memorize the column of alkali metals, the column of alkaline earths, the column of halogens, etc.

It might be best to make an exception and memorize the rows of the lanthanide and actinide rare earths.

Memorization of atomic weights and numbers does not seem useful. As you go on in chemistry and do stoichiometry and other problems, you'll tend to remember the atomic weights you use most. The same for atomic numbers, if you need them at all.

Mnemonics might not be helpful. Try flash cards with the column name or number on one side and the elements in order on the other.

Answer 2

Practice, practice and practice and more practice. Continually do problems from your text book that involve the periodic table, even if you don't have to. I'm a chem major at the moment and you don't have to learn EVERY single element; there are really only 20-30 that appear regularly in questions. The Lanthanides and Actinides are at the bottom, transition metals are in the middle (only 4 rows high), the noble gases are at the far right and the halogens are before them, the alkali and alkaline earth metals are the first two columns, the nonmetals are to the right of the zig-zag line and the metalloids are on either side of it. It would be nearly impossible to memorise the table and never have to use it; it is better to use the table then guess and be wrong.

Answer 3

Just try to remember one from each row and each column. Learn the relationships such as more reactive as you go from top to bottom, more electronegative, etc. There are certain elements which are much more common and you will slowly pick up and remember properties and characteristics. I had about 30 atomic/ cation weights of oxides memorized because I calculated glass batches almost every day. The organic chemists had lots of other stuf memorized.
Chemistry is lots different than 40 years ago when a good part of the tests would include rote memorized stuff. Like multiplication tables, certain things are best memorized to save time but other stuff can be looked up quickly.

Answer 4

I am a chemist and I don't have the table memorized, I have most of it memorized but not all. Why? Because I am never in a situation where I have a chemistry problem and cannot find a table. Periodic tables are everywhere. The chemist motto is (or should be): "Never memorize what you can look up".

The real way to become a nerd about chemistry is to learn how to solve chemical problems. Get to know the elements and how the react with each other not simply their names.

I guess my answer is to memorize it through use.

Answer 5

Carbon is at a weight of 12 on the periodic table. So that means 6.0221415×10^23 Carbon atoms weighs 12 grams. Oxygen is about a weight of 16 on the periodic table. So that means 6.0221415×10^23 Oxygen atoms weighs 16 grams. That's basically the practical way it was derived, with Carbon being the starting point I think. Also it is neutrons + protons approx. as well. All super interesting, right? >_>

Answer 6

You can pretty much find whether an element is a metal, non-metal, halogen, noble gas if you know its atomic number.
If you know atomic number, you can find its electronic configuration. From that you can tell if the element is metal, non-metal, halogen or a noble gas.

Here's what you can do to learn some of the elements and their atomic number

1)What is 'thrilin' for Chemistry students?
(3-Li--->Lithium-Atomic number 3)
(Elec con: 2,1---Alkali Metal)

2)For Chemistry students 'Before' is Be-4
(Be is symbol for Beryllium and 4 is its atomic number)
(Elec configuration: 2,2--- Alkaline Earth Metal)

3)B can look like S( where written 'digitally')
B--->5
(Elec conf: 2,3--->Metalloid)

4) C is incomplete 6
(Elec conf: 2,4--->Non-metal)

5)N in incomplete 7
(When N is rotated to look like Z, it looks like 7)
(Elec conf: 2,5---Non-metal)

6)What does O say to 8? Nice belt-lol
(O is symbol for Oxygen and 8 is its atomic number. O looks like incomplete 8)
(Elec con: 2,6---Non-metal)

7)F when rotated horizontally looks like incomplete 9, (when 9 is written 'digitally')
(Elec con: 2,7---Halogen)

8)Ne is 'T' short of 'ten' written in reverse order.
Incomplete 10
(Elec con: 2,8---Noble gas)

9)A is 1st alphabet and 'el' is 12th alphabet so atomic number for Al is 13(1+12)
(Elec conf: 2,8,3--- Poor metal)

(10)What's the number of a horse's shoe?.
Horseshoe's(U) number is 92!!!
(Uranium is radioactive material-Metal)

You can find many such.

Answer 7

I used to repeat the values over and over again through active learning (that is memorizing material while doing an activity-ie. walking or skipping.) Although I didn't learn the entire periodic table (because I didn't need to) it is still a good thing to do. Good luck.
Cheers.

Answer 8

Just study it and work with it. The more you pull the information from inside your brain, the more likely you are to remember it long-term.