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.

Contents

1 Orbitals

1.1 Sequence of orbitals

1.2 Aufbau principle

2 Periodic table

2.1 Periods

2.2 Transition metals

2.3 Lanthanides and actinides

2.4 56 elements in sequence

2.5 Groups

3 Properties of elements

3.1 Abundance of elements on earth's crust

3.2 Activity series of metals

3.3 Electronegativity

3.4 Electrochemical series

4 Reactions and ions

4.1 Redox reactions

4.2 Ions

4.3 Cations and anions

4.4 Cation vs. anion: positive vs. negative

4.5 Oxidation vs. reduction: electrochemical cell and electron gain/loss

4.6 Electrodes

5 Compounds

5.1 Diatomic molecules

5.2 Hydrogen bonds

5.3 Polyatomic ions: −ate and -ite ions

6 Organic chemistry

6.1 Carboxylic acids

6.2 Dicarboxylic acids

6.3 Aromatic compounds

6.4 E-Z notation for isomers

6.5 Cis–trans isomerism

6.6 Benzene ring: order of substitutes

7 Biochemistry

7.1 Essential amino acids

7.2 Krebs cycle

7.3 Plant nutrients

8 See also

9 References

10 Further reading

11 External links

Orbitals

Sequence of orbitals

Further information: Spectroscopic notation

spdfghik

Spd force great hik

Sober Physicists Don't Find Giraffes Hiding In Kitchens.

Note: After the k shell, they follow alphabetical order (skipping s and p as they came earlier).[1]

Aufbau principle

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]

Order in which orbitals are arranged by increasing energy according to the Madelung rule. Each
diagonal red arrow corresponds to a different value of n + l.

Periodic table

Main article: Periodic table

Periods

Main article: Period (periodic table)

Periods 1, 2 and 3

H He Li Be B C N O F Ne Na (sodium) Mg Al Si P S Cl Ar

Hi, Hello, Little Betty Became Charlie's Number One Friend and Neighbor.

Native Magpies Always Sit Peacefully Searching Clear Areas.[3]

Happy Henry Likes Beer But Could Not Obtain Four Nuts.

Naughty Magpies Always Sing Perfect Songs Clawing Ants.

Happy Henry Lithely Began Baking Cakes, Not Omitting Four Necessities.

Naval Magistrates Always Signal Per Siren, Claiming Adequacy.[4]

Here He Lies Beneath Bed Clothes, Nothing On, Feeling Nervous.

Naughty Margaret Always Sighs, "Please Stop Clowning Around."[5]

Hillary Hertz Liked Berries But Could Not Order Few New Named Meringues Alright. Since Past
She Clutched Apricots
Hi Hello Little Beryll Brown Cracking Nuts On Friday.

Nellie's Naughty Magpie Always Sings Pop Songs Clearly

After Killing Cathy.[5]

Hi! He Lies Because Boron CanNot Oxidize Fluorine. Necromantic Nato Mg (abbv. for make good)

All Silicon Ports. Superman Clean Argon's K-Capture.[6]

Happy Harry Listens B B C Network Over France Nevertheless Nothing More Arose So Peter
Stopped Cleaning Airgun K Ca.[7]

His Headmaster Left Before Bassey Could Now Overcome Force Nowadays Some Men Are So
Proud So Could Arrange Parties Casually.

Harry Helped Little Benny Balmer Carry Neat Oranges From Neptune's Natural Menagerie Always
Singing Polite Sonnets Clearly Arf Key Casually.

Harry Helpes Little Betty Brown Crack Nuts On Friday Nights.

Ha. Healthy Little Beggar Boys Catching Newts Or Fish.[8]

Hell, Here Little Beatniks Brandish Countless Number Of Flick kNives.[9] Nagging Maggie Always
Sighs, "Please Stop Clowning Around." [5] (adapted)

Harry He Likes Beer, Brewed Cold, Never Over F

Hi, Hello! Little Beggar Boy Could Not Offer Flowers. Never Named Mag. All Silver Pens Should
Close. Army Killed Captain!

Period 4

K (Potassium) Ca Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn Ga Ge As Se Br Kr

kingfisher Captain Scans Tight Virgin Crew Members Fer Cold Night Cuddles. Zany Gray Germs
Are Sold By Kremlin.

Kindly Cannibals Scare Timid Visitors, 'n' Cruelly Menace Female Communist Nitwits Cuddling
Zany Gabbling Geese Astride Several Brutal Kangaroos.[4]

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.[10]

Transition metals

Main article: Transition metals

First
Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn

Scary Tiny Vicious Creatures are Mean; Females Come to Night to Club Zen.[11]

Scabby Tim Violates Crummy, Mangy, Ferrets, Cows and Nice Cute Zebras.[12]

SucTion VelCro Man Fears CoNiC uZi.

Science Ticher (actually Teacher) Very Cruel Man Fe-Co-Ni-Cu-Zn (pronounce fe-ko-ni-ku-zen)

For Hindi language speakers:

Sachin Tendulkar Virat Cricket Mein Fir Koi Naya Cup Jeetenge (does not preserve the spellings of
elements' symbols, but the phrase itself is instantly memorable; "koi" rhymes with "Cobalt", and
the last word is for Zinc)

this one doesn't give the symbols, but should help with the names:

Some Take Veno's Cough Mixture For Colds, NiCuZ(n)

Send The Vans and Cars Marked, For Checking N(and) Correcting Z

Second

Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd

Yes S(Z)ir, Niobi and Most Technicians Rub Rhonda Padilla's silver(Ag) Cadillac.[11]

U(Y)ser(Zr): Noob. MoaTs cRush R(h)eally Pointy dAggers, Cod.

For Hindi language speakers — Yari Zara Nibhana Mout Tac, Rukavatein Rahon mein Pade to Aag
mein Cood jana.

Yesterday's zeal and motivation teach Raghu Ram passion and compassion. — Credit goes to
GSCH sir :)

Third

La ... Hf Ta W Re Os Ir Pt Au Hg

Larry's Half Taken, Wendy Reached Out H(I)er Plate Audibly, Helga.[11]

Loud Hoot feared. TaWny Red Owls ' Irate Plots Actually Hurt gardeners.

Indians — Leave heavy targets, work regularly, otherwise IIT preparation affected horribly

Last Half Taken Was Red osmium. Irish Plates A(u)re Heavy.

HINDI SPEAKERS- La Hf Ta Warna Reh Uss(Os) Irritating Popat ke saath Aur Hoj(g)a pagal
Lanthanides and actinides

Main articles: Lanthanides and actinides

Lanthanides

(La) Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Tm Yb Lu

Ladies Can't Put Nickels Properly in Slot-machines. Every Girl Tries Daily, However, Every Time
You Lose.[13]

Languid Centaurs Praise Ned's Promise of Small European Garden Tubs; Dinosaurs Hobble
Erratically Thrumming Yellow Lutes.[14]

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.[15]

Three Planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Amy Cured Berkeley, California. Einstein and Fermi
Made Noble Laws.[11]

Thor, Protector of Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and America, Cured Berkeley in California. Einstein,
Fermi and Mendeleev gave Noble prize to Lawrence.

56 elements 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

Here Lies Benjamin Bones. Cry Not Oh Friend Needlessly.

Nature Magnifies All Simple People Sometimes Clowns And

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

Indian Sons Sobbing Tears In Xcess Cease Bawling.[6]

For first 20 elements Hi He Lies Because Boys Can Not Operate Fireplace. New Nation Might Also
Sign Peace Security Clause

Groups

Main article: Group (periodic table)

Group 1 (alkali metals)

Li Na K Rb Cs Fr

Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, Francium

LIttle NAsty Kids RuB CatS FuR

LIttle NAughty Kids Ruin Ben's Convenient Store Forever

LIa & NAthan Knew RuBies CoSt FoRtunes

Little Nath Knew Rubies Cost Fortunes

For hindi Language Speakers, Li na Ki Rab Cse Farid.

Remember that hydrogen is not an alkali metal

Group 2 (alkaline earth metals)

Be Mg Ca Sr Ba Ra

Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, Radium

Bearded Muggers Came Straight Back Rapidly.

Beer Mugs Can Serve Bar Rats.[11]

Ben Meg & Casia Stroll away to Bar of Radium

INDIANS- Beti Maange Car Sundar Baap Raazi

Group 13

B Al Ga In Tl

Boron, Aluminium, Gallium, Indium, Thallium

Baingan Alu Gajjar In Thaila[15]

BAl Ga ngadhar India ka Ti lak.

Britishers Always Gave Indians Trouble.[11]

B A G I T (bag it)

Bodi Al aunty Gai India se Thailand[15]

Group 14

C Si Ge Sn Pb

Carbon, Silicon, Germanium, Tin, Lead

Can Silly Germans Snatch (Tiny) Public (Lead).

Can Simple Germans Snare (Tiny) Public (Lead)?[11]

Chemistry Sir Gives Snappy Problems.

Chaku Singh Great Son Of Punjab

Carbon and Silicon chips in Germany are doped with Tin and Lead

INDIANS- C(Kahe) Siya Ge(ji) Suno Prabhu

Group 15 (pnictogens)
N P As Sb Bi

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Antimony, Bismuth

Nana Patekar, Ashwariya sab bimar.

NewZealand pakistan Australia Sab Bikgay

Nahi Pasand Aise Sab Biscuit.

Group 16 (chalcogens)

O S Se Te Po

Oxygen, Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium, Polonium

Oversized Sailors Sell and Tell about Polo cologne.

Old TSangpo Seem Terribly Polluted.[11]

Oliver Smith Sells Tea Pots.

Oh Shiva See The Pots.

Olof Sundby Sees Television Porn.

Old Style Sea Tea Pio.

Group 17 (halogens)

F Cl Br I At

Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Astatine

False CBI Agent

First Class Birayani I Ate.

Funny Clowns Broil Innocent Ants.[11]

Fat Clowns Bring In Attention

Father Called Brother IdiAt.

Fleeing Chlorine-layers & Bromine, I’d Astonish.

Fast Clouds Break In Atlantis.[15]

Group 18 (noble gases)

He Ne Ar Kr Xe Rn

Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon, Oganesson

Hero Needs Arguable Kryptic Xes. Right-on.[15]

He Never Arrived; Karen eXited with Ron.[11]

He k'New Ar (Our) Car (Kr) is Xen 'Red .

Her New Ark Krashed with Xenophobic Ron's Ogre.

Properties of elements

Abundance of elements on earth's crust

[Oxygen(O)] > [Silicon(Si)] > [Aluminium(Al)] > [Iron(Fe)] > [Calcium(Ca)] > [Sodium (Na)] >
[Potassium(K)] > [Magnesium (Mg)]

(The rest makes only 1%)

Only Strong Athletes In College Study Past Midnight

As they are present in trace quantities they are measured in parts per million(ppm).

Activity series of metals

Main article: Reactivity series

Potassium>Sodium>Calcium>Magnesium>Aluminium>(Carbon)*>Zinc>Iron>Lead>Hydrogen>Co
pper>Silver>Gold

Please Stop Calling Me A Cute Zebra I Like Her Call Smart Goat [16]

Note that Carbon is a non-metal, used as a baseline.

K > Na > Mg > Al > Zn > Cr > Fe > Pb > H > Cu > Au
Kangaroos Naturally Muck About in Zoos For Purple Hippos Chasing Aardvarks.[17]

Katty's Naughty Cat Mingled with Alice and Zarina; Fearlessly Plundering Her Cupboard of Gold.
[18]

Papa Said Call Me After Zinc Interacts Tin Leading Hydrogen Co-operate Mr. Sylvester to Gain
Popularity.[19]

K > Na > Ca > Mg > Al > C > Zn > Fe > Ni > Sn > Pb > H > Cu > Ag > Au >Pt

Pretty(Potassium) Sally(Sodium) Could(Calcium) Marry(Magnesium) A(Aluminium) Crazy(Carbon)

Zulu(Zinc) IN(Iron/Nickel) Tree(Tin) Lined(Lead) House(Hydrogen) Causing(Copper)
Strangely(Silver) Glancing(Gold) People(Platinum).

Li > K > Ba > Sr > Ca > Na > Mg > Al > Mn > Zn > Cr > Fe > Cd > Co > Ni > Sn > Pb

Li K Ba Sr Ca Na. Mg Al Mn Zn. Cr Fe Cd, Co Ni Sn Pb. That is.

Electronegativity

Main article: Electronegativity

Fluorine > Oxygen > Chlorine > Nitrogen > Bromine > Iodine > Sulfur > Carbon > Hydrogen ≥
Phosphorus

Pronounce: FOClN BrIS CHP.[20]

(F)irst (O)ff, (Cl)od (N)ow; (Br)ing (I)n (S)ome (C)aps, (H)ats, and (P)ants. (First off, cold now. Bring
in some caps, hats {and} pants.)

Electrochemical series

Main article: Standard electrode potential (data page)

Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminium > Zinc > Iron > Tin > Lead > Hydrogen
> Copper > Silver > Gold

Popular Scientists Can Make A Zoo In The Low Humid Country More(Mercury) Satisfactorily
(Gold).

Paddy Still Could Marry A Zulu In The Lovely Honolulu Causing Strange Gazes.

Please Stop Calling Me A Crazy Zombie If That Large Hippo Can’t Swim, Glug, glug.

Passive Sarcasm Can Mutate Angry Zombies InTo Large Hypocritical Cold Sexy Guys.

Please Send Charlie's Monkeys And Zebras In Cages Securely Guarded

Reactions and ions

Redox reactions

A redox reaction is a chemical reaction in which there is a change in oxidation state of atoms
participating in the reaction.

Ions

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 electrons. 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.

Leo says Ger! or Leo the lion, Ger! can be used to represent Loss of electron is oxidation; Gain of
electron is reduction.[21][22]

Oil Rig: Oxidation is loss; Reduction is gain (of electrons).[23]

Cations and anions

Cations are positively (+) charged ions while anions are negatively (−) charged. This can be
remembered with the help of the following mnemonics.

Cats have paws ⇔ Cations are pawsitive.[24]

Ca+ion: The letter t in cation looks like a + (plus) sign.[25]

An anion is a negative ion. (Anegativeion ⇒ Anion).[26]

Cation vs. anion: positive vs. negative

The t in cation looks like a plus sign: "ca+ion".

Cation is positive, anion is negative.[27]

Oxidation vs. reduction: electrochemical cell and electron gain/loss

AN OIL RIG CAT:

At the ANode, Oxidation Involves Loss of electrons.

Reduction Involves Gaining electrons at the CAThode.[27]

LOAN - Left Anode Oxidation Negative. In written representation of galvanic cell, anode is written
on the left. It is the electrode where oxidation takes place. It is the negative electrode. Obviously,
the opposite properties (Right/Cathode/Reduction/Positive) are found on the cathode. Hence,
by remembering LOAN mnemonic, we can arrive at the corresponding properties for the
cathode.

LEO says GER:

"Loss of Electrons, Oxidation; Gain of Electrons, Reduction".[28]

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.

Red cat: Reduction at cathode

An ox: Anode for oxidation.[29]

The words oxidation and anode, both begin with vowels.

Also, both reduction and cathode begin with consonants.[26]

Fat Cat: electrons flow From Anode To Cathode

LOAN: Left side;Oxidation;Anode;Negative.

Compounds
Diatomic molecules

Molecules exhibiting diatomic structures can be remembered through the following mnemonics.

Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine

I Have No Bright Or Clever Friends.

I Bring Clover For Our New Horse.

Have No Fear Of Ice Cold Beer. [30]

Help Our Needy Class Find Brains Immediately.

Harry-O Never Cleans Fish Before Intercourse

Horses Need Oats For Clear Brown Eyes (I's).

Her Nana's Only Functioning Clicker Broke Instantly.[31]

BrINClHOF: say Brinkelhof.[32]

HOFBrINCl: say Hofbrinkel.

HONClBrIF The name of the imaginary chemistry goose. Say "Honk-Cool-Brief."

I Bring Clay For Our New House.[11]

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.

Hydrogen is FON! (fun).[26]

Polyatomic ions: −ate and -ite ions

Sulfate, Phosphate, Carbonate, Chlorate, Bromate, Iodate, Nitrate

Super Popeye Constantly Clubbed Brutus In Nevada.

Nitrate, Bromate, Carbonate, Iodate, Chlorate, Chromate, Sulfate, Phosphate

Nick Brit the Camel ate an Inky Clam with Crêpes for Supper in Phoenix.

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.

Organic chemistry

Carboxylic acids

Common names of homogeneous aliphatic carboxylic acids,

Formic, Acetic, Propionic, Butyric, Valeric, Caproic

Frogs Are Polite, Being Very Courteous.[33]

Dicarboxylic acids

The sequence of dicarboxylic acids can be remembered with following mnemonics.

Oxalic, Malonic, Succinic, Glutaric, Adipic, Pimelic, Suberic, Azelaic, Sebacic

Oh My, Such Good Apples.[34]

Oh My Stars, Green Apples.

Oh My, Such Good Apple Pie, Sweet As Sugar.[35][36]

Oh My Stars, Go Ahead Please[26]

OMSGAP - is a phonetic word for the first letters of the first six dicarboxylic acids above in
sequence.

Aromatic compounds

m-directing groups

Quaternary amino Ester Sulfonic acid Nitro Carbonyl Carboxyl Cyano

(-NR3+) (-COOR) (-SO3H) (-NO2) (-CHO) (-COOH) (-CN)

Queen Elizabeth Second's Navy Commands, Controls, Communicates.[37]

o,p-directing groups

Alkyl Halogen Alkoxyl Amino Hydroxyl Amide Phenyl

(R) (X) (OR) (-NH2 -NHR -NR2) (OH) (NHCOR (C6H5)

AHA AHA P.[37]

Note: -NH2,-NHR and NR2 are para directing groups but not -NR3+

E-Z notation for isomers

Main article: E-Z notation

"E" for enemies. i.e higher priority groups on opposite sides. Z form has higher priority groups on
same side.[27]

"Z zame zide" i.e. high priority groups on same side.

Cis–trans isomerism

Main article: Cis–trans isomerism

Cis starts with a C and the functional groups form a C.

Trans, therefore is the other one by default.[27]

Benzene ring: order of substitutes

Main article: Benzene ring

From R group moving around the ring:[27]

R group, Ortho, Meta, Para

Benzene likes to ROMP.

Biochemistry

Essential amino acids

Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Arginine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan,

Histidine, Valine

PVT TIM HaLL[38] and TT HALL Very IMPortant.[39]

MATT HILL, VP Matt Hill is the Vice President

LIFT HIM KIW(V)I

TV FILM HW(R)K.

Any Help In Learning These Little Molecules Proves Truly Valuable.[40] 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.

Krebs cycle

To remember Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle, tricarboxylic acid cycle);

Citrate → Aconitate → Isocitrate → Oxalosuccinate → α-Ketoglutarate → Succinate → Fumarate

→ Malate → Oxaloacetate

Caesar’s Armies Invaded Other Kingdoms Searching For Many Oranges.[20]

Citric Acid Is One Key Substrate For Mitochondrial Oxidation

Plant nutrients

To remember the elements necessary for agriculture;

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.[41]

For remembering macronutrients;

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Calcium, and Magn