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List of Chemistry Mnemonics Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia PDF
List of Chemistry Mnemonics Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia PDF
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.
Acids
Contents
Dilution of acids
1 Acids
Care must be taken while diluting an acid. One should never add water
1.1 Dilution of acids
to acid, as it may splash out due to the excess heat produced and causes
2 Cations and anions
severe chemical burns. Rather, the acid should be added to water,
3 Redox reactions
slowly, with constant stirring. This can be remembered with the following
3.1 Ions
mnemonics.
3.2 Electrodes
Always do things as you oughta 4 −ate ions
5 Electronegativity
Add the acid to the water 6 Electrochemical series
If you think your life’s too placid 7 Activity series
Add the water to the acid 8 Diatomic molecules
9 Hydrogen bonds
Acid to Water; All is Well. 10 Electromagnetic spectrum
11 Organic chemistry
Water to Acid; What an Accident![1] 11.1 Nomenclature
11.2 Aromatic compounds
Cations and anions 12 Atomic orbital
12.1 Sequence of orbitals
Cations are positively (+) charged ions while anions are negatively (-) 12.2 Aufbau principle
charged. This can be remembered with the help of the following 13 Mohs scale of mineral hardness
mnemonics. 14 Periodic table
14.1 Periods
Cats have paws ⇔ Cations are pawsitive.[2] 14.2 Groups
Ca+ion: The letter t in cation looks like a + (plus) sign.[3] 14.3 Transition metals
An anion is a negative ion. (Anegativeion ⇒ Anion).[4] 14.4 Lanthanides and actinides
14.5 Miscellaneous
Redox reactions 15 Abundance of elements
15.1 On Earth's crust
A redox reaction is a chemical reaction in which there is a change in 16 Biochemistry
oxidation state of atoms participating in the reaction. 16.1 Krebs cycle
16.2 Plant nutrients
Ions 16.3 Essential amino acids
17 See also
An atom (or ion) whose oxidation number increases in a redox reaction is 18 References
said to be oxidized (and is called a reducing agent). It is accomplished by 19 Sources
loss of one or more electrons. The atom whose oxidation number 20 External links
decreases gains (receives) one or more electrons and is said to be
reduced. This relation can be remembered by the following mnemonics.
Leo says Ger! or Leo the lion, Ger! can be used to represent Loss of electron is oxidation; Gain of electron is
reduction.[5][6]
Oil Rig: Oxidation is loss; Reduction is gain (of electrons).[7]
Electrodes
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.
−ate ions
Sulfate, Phosphate, Carbonate, Chlorate, Bromate, Iodate, Nitrate
Nick Brit the Camel ate an Inky Clam with Crêpes for Supper in Phoenix.
Number of consonants denotes number of oxygens. Number of vowels denotes negative charge quantity. Inclusion of the
word "ate" signifies that each ends with the letters a-t-e
Electronegativity
Fluorine > Oxygen > Clorine > Nitrogen > Bromine > Iodine > Sulphur > Carbon > Hydrogen ≥ Phosphorous
Pronounce: FOClNBrISCHP.[10]
Electrochemical series
Potassium > Calcium > Sodium > Magnesium > Aluminium > Zinc > Iron > Tin > Lead > Hydrogen > Copper > Silver >
Gold
Paddy Could Still Marry A Zulu In The Lovely Honolulu Causing Strange Gazes.[11]
Activity series
K > Na > Mg > Al > Zn > Cr > Fe > Pd > H > Cu > Au
Kangaroos Naturally Muck About in Zoos For Purple Hippos Chasing Aardvarks.[12]
Katty's Naughty Cat Mingled with Alice and Zarina; Fearlessly Plundering Her Cupboard of Gold.[13]
Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminum > Zinc > Iron > Lead > Copper > Silver > Gold.
Peter Sells Careless Monkeys And Zebras In Large Cages Securely Guarded
Potassium Sodium Calcium Magnesium Aluminium Zinc Iron Lead Copper Silver Gold
Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminum > Zinc > Iron > Tin > Lead > Hydrogen > Copper >
Mercury > Silver.
Popular Scientists Can Make A Zoo In The Low Humid Country More Satisfactorily.[14]
Private Second Class MACZITL He Can Make Some Gun Powder
Diatomic molecules
Molecules exhibiting diatomic structures can be remembered through the following mnemonics.
Hydrogen bonds
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.
Electromagnetic spectrum
In the order of increasing frequency or decreasing wavelength of electromagnetic waves;
Radio waves, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-Rays, Gamma Rays
Good Xylophones Use Very Interesting Musical Rhythms.[19] Similarly, Good Xylophonists Use Very
Interesting Musical Rhythms.
Organic chemistry
Nomenclature
Carboxylic acids
Common names of homogeneous aliphatic carboxylic acids,
Dicarboxylic acids
Aromatic compounds
m-directing groups
o,p-directing groups
Note: -NH2,-NHR and NR2 are para directing groups but not -NR3+
Atomic orbital
Sequence of orbitals
s pdfghik
Note: After the k shell, they follow alphabetical order (skipping p as it came earlier).[1]
Aufbau principle
Talc (1) < Gypsum (2) < Calcite (3) < Fluorite (4) < Apatite (5) < Orthoclase (6) < Quartz (7) < Topaz (8) < Corundum
(9) < Diamond (10)
Periodic table
Periods
Periods 1, 2 and 3
H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar
Hi! He Lies Because Boron CanNot Oxidize Fluorine. Necromantic Nato Mg (abbv. for make good)
Happy Harry Listens B B C Network Over France Nevertheless Nothing More Arose So Peter Stopped
Cleaning Airgun K Ca.[29]
Harry Helped Little Benny Balmer Carry Neat Oranges From Neptune's Natural Menagerie Always
Singing Polite Sonnets Clearly Arf Key Casually.
Nagging Maggie Always Sighs, "Please Stop Clowning Around." [27] (adapted)
Period 4
K (Potassium) Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr
''PoKey Captain Scans Tight Virgin Crew Members Fer Cold Night Cuddles. Zany Gray Germs Are Sold
By Kremlin.
In reverse order: Kry Brother! SeAs of Germany and Gaul sink copper ships Nice and Cold From Manx to
Crimea, Vancouver to Timor, and Scandinavia to the California Koast.[32]
Groups
H Li Na K Rb Cs Fr
Be Mg Ca Sr Ba Ra
B Al Ga In Tl
Group 14
C Si Ge Sn (tin) Pb (lead)
Group 15 (pnictogens)
N P As Sb Bi
Group 16 (chalcogens)
O S Se Te Po
Group 17 (halogens)
F Cl Br I At
He Ne Ar Kr Xe Rn
Transition metals
First
Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn
Scary Tiny Vicious Creatures Mean Females Come Nightly to Club Z.[16]
Scabby Tim Violates Crummy, Mangy, Ferrets, Cows and Nice Cute Zebras.[18]
Saint Thomas Very Carefully Made Five Completely New Copies of Zarathustha.[34]
Second
Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd
Yes Sir, Nob. Most Technicians Rub Rod's Pale Silver Cadillac.[16]
Third
La ... Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg
Larry's Half Taken, Wendy Reached Out Her Plate Audibly, Helga.[16]
Lanthanides
(La) Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu
Laand Ceremonies: Presiding Neo-dimwits Promise Some-mere European Goddole, Turbid Dysproteinemia
Holes Erban (urban) Tool-mans Year-tear-book Lucidly.[33]
Little Cute People Need Plenty Sex Every Given Time Despite Having Enough Through Young Love and
Currently Parties Never Provide Sexy English Girls That Drink Heavily, Even Though You Look.[32]
Ladies Can't Put Nickels Properly in Slot-machines. Every Girl Tries Daily, However, Every Time You
Look.[34]
Actinides
(Ac) Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr
Radiant Acting Thoroughly Protects yoUr Nepotism, Plutocratic America Cures-me & Berkeley California,
Einstein Firmly Mended Noble Lawreins.[33]
Three Planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Amy Cured Berkeley, California. Einstein and Fermi Made
Noble Laws.[16]
Miscellaneous
56 in sequence
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
Kings Can Scream Till Vast Crowds Moan. Fear Conquers Neither Courageous Zealous
Gallant Gents. As Seen Brown Karate Robes Strip Yobs. Zurich Noble Mortals Track Ruddy Rhubarb. Paid
Silver Candid
Abundance of elements
On Earth's crust
Oxygen > Silicon > Aluminum > Iron (Fe) > Calcium > Magnesium (Mg) > Sodium (Na) > Potassium (K)
(The rest makes only 1%)
Biochemistry
Krebs cycle
Plant nutrients
Carbon, Hydrogen, Calcium, Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Molybdenum, Chlorine
(Cl), Boron
C (see) Hopkins CaFe, Mighty-good Man, Cu (see your) Money, hope they are Closed or out of Business.[35]
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Calcium, Iron (Fe), and Magnesium
TV FILM HW(R)K.
Any Help In Learning These Little Molecules Proves Truly Valuable.[38] This method begins with the two amino
acids that need some qualifications as to their requirements.
There as [a] fat man [that] hated vanilla icing, [but] loved Kit-Kats.
See also
List of mnemonics
References
Sources
http://www.freechemteacher.org/Recommended_Resources_files/Mnemonics for Chemistry.pdf
http://jcdverha.home.xs4all.nl/scijokes/11_5.html
http://ict4us.com/r.kuijt/en_chemistry.htm
http://www.chem.uic.edu/marek/marek_downloads/documents/Mnemonics%20for%20chem%203%202010.ppt.pdf
External links
Mnemonics for the Entire Periodic Table (http://www.springerlink.com/content/n4041407123843k4/fulltext.pdf)