A mnemonic is a memory aid used to improve long-term memory and make the process of consolidation easier. Many chemistry aspects, rules, names of compounds, sequences of elements, their reactivity, etc., can be easily and efficiently memorized with the help of mnemonics. This article contains the list of certain mnemonics in chemistry.
s p d f g h i k |
Note: After the k shell, they follow alphabetical order (skipping s and p as they came earlier).[1]
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s2 3d10 ... |
The order of sequence of atomic orbitals (according to Madelung rule or Klechkowski rule) can be remembered by the following.[2]
H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na (Sodium) Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar |
K (Potassium) Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr |
Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag (Silver) Cd In Sn (Tin) Sb (Antimony) Te I Xe |
Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn |
Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd |
La ... Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg |
(La) Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu |
(Ac) Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr |
H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar K Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd In Sn Sb Te I Xe Cs Ba |
Li Na K Rb Cs Fr |
Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, Francium
Be Mg Ca Sr Ba Ra |
Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, Radium
B Al Ga In Tl |
Boron, Aluminium, Gallium, Indium, Thallium
C Si Ge Sn Pb |
Carbon, Silicon, Germanium, Tin (stannum in Latin), Lead (plumbum in Latin)
N P As Sb Bi |
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Antimony, Bismuth, Moscovium.
O S Se Te Po Lv |
Oxygen, Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium, Polonium
F Cl Br I At Ts |
Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Astatine, Tennessine
He Ne Ar Kr Xe Rn |
Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon.
[Oxygen(O)] > [Silicon(Si)] > [Aluminium(Al)] > [Iron(Fe)] > [Calcium(Ca)] > [Sodium (Na)] > [Potassium(K)] > [Magnesium (Mg)] |
(The rest makes only 1%) |
As they are present in trace quantities they are measured in parts per million(ppm).
Potassium>Sodium>Calcium>Magnesium>Aluminium>(Carbon)*>Zinc>Chromium>Iron>Tin>Lead>(Hydrogen)*>Copper>Mercury>Silver>Gold>Platinum |
Note that Carbon and Hydrogen are non-metals, used as a baseline.
K > Na > Mg > Al > Zn > Cr > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Au |
K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > Zn > Fe > Ni > Sn > Pb > Cu > Ag > Au >Pt |
Li > K > Ba > Sr > Ca > Na > Mg > Al > Mn > Zn > Cr > Fe > Cd > Co > Ni > Sn > Pb |
Fluorine > Oxygen > Chlorine > Nitrogen > Bromine > Iodine > Sulfur > Carbon > Hydrogen ≥ Phosphorus |
(F)irst (O)ff, (Cl)ean (N)ow; (Br)ing (I)n (S)ome (C)lothes, (H)ats, and (P)ants. (First off, clean now. Bring in some caps, hats {and} pants.)
Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminium > Zinc > Iron > Tin > Lead > Hydrogen > Copper > Silver > Gold |
A redox reaction is a chemical reaction in which there is a change in oxidation state of atoms participating in the reaction.
An atom (or ion) whose oxidation number increases in a redox reaction is said to be oxidized (and is called a reducing agent). It is accomplished by loss of one or more The atom whose oxidation number decreases gains (receives) one or more electrons and is said to be reduced. This relation can be remembered by the following mnemonics.
Cations are positively (+) charged ions while anions are negatively (−) charged. This can be remembered with the help of the following mnemonics.
An electrode in which oxidation takes place is called an anode while in that which reduction takes place is called cathode. This applies for both electrolytic and electrochemical cells, though the charge on them reverses. The red cat and an ox mnemonics are useful to remember the same.
Molecules exhibiting diatomic structures can be remembered through the following mnemonics.
Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine |
Hydrogen forms hydrogen bonds with three elements which are nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) and fluorine (F). The names of these elements can be remembered by the following mnemonic.
Sulfite, Phosphite, Carbonate, Chlorate, Bromate, Iodate, Nitrate |
Nitrate, Bromate, Carbonate, Iodate, Chlorate, Chromate, Sulfate, Phosphate |
Number of consonants denotes number of oxygen atoms. Number of vowels denotes negative charge quantity. Inclusion of the word "ate" signifies that each ends with the letters a-t-e. To use this for the -ite ions, simply subtract one oxygen but keep the charge the same.
The prefixes for naming carbon chains containing one to four carbons. For chains containing five or more carbons, the inorganic prefixes (pent, hex, etc.) are used.
Meth | Eth | Prop | But |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
For the first five chains.
Common names of homogeneous aliphatic carboxylic acids,
Formic, Acetic, Propionic, Butyric, Valeric, Caproic |
The sequence of dicarboxylic acids can be remembered with following mnemonics.
Oxalic, Malonic, Succinic, Glutaric, Adipic, Pimelic, Suberic, Azelaic, Sebacic |
Quaternary amino | Ester | Sulfonic acid | Nitro | Carbonyl | Carboxyl | Cyano |
(-NR3+) | (-COOR) | (-SO3H) | (-NO2) | (-CHO) | (-COOH) | (-CN) |
Alkyl | Halogen | Alkoxyl | Amino | Hydroxyl | Amide | Phenyl | ||
(R) | (X) | (OR) | (-NH2 | -NHR | -NR2) | (OH) | (NHCOR | (C6H5) |
Note: -NH2,-NHR and NR2 are para directing groups but not -NR3+
"E" for 'enemies'. i.e higher priority groups on opposite sides. Z form has higher priority groups on same side.[26]
"Z" means 'zame zide' (same side) i.e. high priority groups on same side.
Cis starts with a C and the functional groups form a C.
Trans, therefore is the other one by default.[26]
From R group moving around the ring:[26]
R group, Ortho, Meta, Para |
Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Arginine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Histidine, Valine |
To remember Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle, tricarboxylic acid cycle);
Citrate → Aconitate → Isocitrate → Oxalosuccinate → α-Ketoglutarate → Succinate → Fumarate → Malate → Oxaloacetate |
To remember the elements necessary for agriculture;
Carbon, Hydrogen, Calcium, Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Molybdenum, Chlorine (Cl), Boron |
For remembering macronutrients;
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Calcium, and Magnesium |
To remember the elements comprising the human body;
Iodine, Phosphorus, Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe) |
Science mnemonics | |
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