How to Memorize the Periodic Table

Many high school or college classes require memorization of at least the first half of the table, as this is where the most common elements are found. Memorizing the Periodic Table might seem like a daunting task. As with any memorization task, however, there are tricks and techniques to make it easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Say the first element, hydrogen. Then say the first two elements, hydrogen, helium. Then add the third element: hydrogen, helium, lithium. Keep going like this, each time starting back at the beginning then adding just one more element.
2. Make pairs or small groups of elements in your mind. For instance, hydrogen and helium go together nicely because they both start with H and have three syllables. Lithium and beryllium can be a pair because they both end in –ium and have three syllables. Nitrogen and oxygen both end in –gen and have thee syllables. Fluorine can be by itself, then you are all the way at the end of the line with neon. Sodium and magnesium both end in –ium and are salts. Combining bits of information to make larger units is called “chunking” and it helps the brain organize and store information.
3. Make the elements into a sing-song rhyme, as if you were jump roping. (Try saying the table as you jump and starting over every time you miss. You’ll not only learn the table, you’ll get some exercise!) See the link in Resources for a CD that includes a pre-made jumping rhyme for memorization of the Periodic Table.
4. Make up a story for each line—a story that uses key words or letters that remind you, in order, of each element. For example, a story for the fifth row might begin like this: "Ruby (Rb) was the strongest (Sr) girl in her town. Why, (Y) her muscles, “zay” (they) are (Zr) the envy (Nb) of everyone."
5. Tap into your inductive learning abilities by playing board games about the Periodic Table.

Tips & Warnings

• Don’t expect to memorize the table in just one or two sessions. Practicing frequently for small amounts of time is better than practicing just once or twice for a long time.
• Make sure you know the names that the letter symbols stand for. Information that actually means something is easier for the brain to remember than random facts!