List of chemistry mnemonics

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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.

Orbitals

Sequence of orbitals

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]

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

Periods

Periods 1, 2 and 3

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

Period 4

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

Period 5

Rb Sr Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag (Silver) Cd In Sn (Tin) Sb (Antimony) Te I Xe

Transition metals

First

Sc Ti V Cr Mn Fe Co Ni Cu Zn

Second

Y Zr Nb Mo Tc Ru Rh Pd Ag Cd

Third

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

Lanthanides and actinides

Lanthanides

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

Actinides

(Ac) Th Pa U Np Pu Am Cm Bk Cf Es Fm Md No Lr

56 elements in sequence

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
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.[9]

Groups

Group 1 (alkali metals)

Li Na K Rb Cs Fr

Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Caesium, Francium

Group 2 (alkaline earth metals)

Be Mg Ca Sr Ba Ra

Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium, Radium

Group 13

B Al Ga In Tl

Boron, Aluminium, Gallium, Indium, Thallium

Group 14

C Si Ge Sn Pb

Carbon, Silicon, Germanium, Tin (stannum in Latin), Lead (plumbum in Latin)

Group 15 (Pnictogens)

N P As Sb Bi

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Antimony, Bismuth, Moscovium.

Group 16 (Chalcogens)

O S Se Te Po Lv

Oxygen, Sulfur, Selenium, Tellurium, Polonium

Group 17 (Halogens)

F Cl Br I At Ts

Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Astatine, Tennessine

Group 18 (noble gases)

He Ne Ar Kr Xe Rn

Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon.

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%)

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

Activity series of metals

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

Electronegativity

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.)

Electrochemical series

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

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.

Cations and anions

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

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

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.

An ox: Anode for oxidation.[28]
Also, both reduction and cathode begin with consonants.[25]

Compounds

Diatomic molecules

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

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

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.

Polyatomic ions: −ate and -ite ions

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.

Organic chemistry

Prefixes for naming carbon chains

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.

Carboxylic acids

Common names of homogeneous aliphatic carboxylic acids,

Formic, Acetic, Propionic, Butyric, Valeric, Caproic

Dicarboxylic acids

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

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

Aromatic compounds

m-directing groups

Quaternary amino Ester Sulfonic acid Nitro Carbonyl Carboxyl Cyano
(-NR3+) (-COOR) (-SO3H) (-NO2) (-CHO) (-COOH) (-CN)

o,p-directing groups

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-Z notation for isomers

"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–trans isomerism

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

Trans, therefore is the other one by default.[26]

Benzene ring: order of substitutes

From R group moving around the ring:[26]

R group, Ortho, Meta, Para

Biochemistry

Essential amino acids

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

Krebs cycle

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

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

Plant nutrients

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

Elements Comprising the Human Body

To remember the elements comprising the human body;

Iodine, Phosphorus, Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Calcium (Ca), Iron (Fe)


See also

References

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  2. ^ Zumdahl, Steven S. and Zumdahl, Susan A. (2000), Chemistry, Houghton Mifflin, 5th ed., p. 324 ISBN 0-395-98583-8
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External links

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Structural Biochemistry/Helpful Mnemonics