List of chemistry mnemonics

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 eciently memorized with the help of mnemonics. This article contains the list of certain mnemonics in
chemistry.

Activity series
Kangaroos Naturally Muck About in Zoos For
Purple Hippos Chasing Aardvarks.[1]
Kattys Naughty Cat Mingled with Alice and Zarina;
Fearlessly Plundering Her Cupboard of Gold.[2]
Order in which orbitals are arranged by increasing energy according to the Madelung rule. Each diagonal red arrow corre-

Peter Sells Careless Monkeys And Zebras In Large sponds to a dierent value of n + l.
Cages Securely Guarded

3 Cations and anions

Papa Said Call Me After Zinc Interacts Tin

Leading Hydrogen Co-operate Mr. Sylvester to
Gain Popularity.[3]

Cations are positively (+) charged ions while anions are

negatively () charged. This can be remembered with the
Private Second Class MAC ZITL He Can Make
help of the following mnemonics.
Some Gun Powder
Pleasant Spaniards Caper Magnicently Around
Crowned Zulus In The Lieu (of) Highly Competent
Swedish Goats

Cats have paws Cations are pawsitive.[5]

Ca+ion: The letter t in cation looks like a + (plus)
sign.[6]

Atomic orbital

2.1

An anion is a negative ion. (Anegativeion Anion).[7]

Sequence of orbitals

Further information: Spectroscopic notation

3.1 Cation vs. anion: positive vs. negative

Sober Physicists Don't Find Giraes Hiding In
Kitchens.

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

Cation is positive, anion is negative.[8]

Note: After the k shell, they follow alphabetical order

(skipping p as it came earlier).[4]

2.2

4 Redox reactions

Aufbau principle

The order of sequence of atomic orbitals (according to A redox reaction is a chemical reaction in which there is
Madelung rule or Klechkowski rule) can be remembered a change in oxidation state of atoms participating in the
by the following.
reaction.
1

4.1

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.[9][10]
Oil Rig: Oxidation is loss; Reduction is gain (of electrons).[11]

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

6 Electronegativity
Pronounce: FONClBrISCHP.[14]
FONe CalL Brought to India,Sonias Congress Happy Position
(F)irst (O), (Cl)ean (N)ow; (Br)ing (I)n (S)ome (C)aps,
(H)alters, and (P)ants.

7 Electrochemical series
Paddy Could Still Marry A Zulu In The Lovely
Honolulu Causing Strange Gazes.[15]

8 Diatomic molecules
4.2

Electrodes

Molecules exhibiting diatomic structures can be rememAn electrode in which oxidation takes place is called bered through the following mnemonics.
an anode while in that which reduction takes place is
called cathode. This applies for both electrolytic and
I Have No Bright Or Clever Friends.
electrochemical cells, though the charge on them re Have No Fear Of Ice Cold Beer. [16]
verses. The red cat and an ox mnemonics are useful to
remember the same.
Help Our Needy Class Find Brains Immediately.
Red cat: Reduction at cathode
An ox: Anode for oxidation.[12]
The words oxidation and anode, both begin with
vowels.
Also, both reduction and cathode begin with
consonants.[7]

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

Her Nanas Only Functioning Clicker Broke
Instantly.[17]
BrINClHOF: say Brinkelhof.[18]
HONClBrIF The name of the imaginary chemistry
goose. Say Honk-Cool-Brief.
I Bring Clay For Our New House.[19]
Have No Fear Of Cute, Innocent Baby twins.

Fat Cat: electrons ow From Anode To Cathode

9 Electromagnetic spectrum
5

ate ions
Super Popeye Constantly Clubbed Brutus In
Nevada.[13]
Nick Brit the Camel ate an Inky Clam with Crpes
for Supper in Phoenix.

In the order of increasing frequency or decreasing wavelength of electromagnetic waves;

Ronald McDonald Invented Very Unusual &
eXcellent Gherkins.[20]
Raging Martians Invaded Venus Using X-ray Guns.
In the order of increasing wavelength;

Number of consonants denotes number of oxygen atoms.

Number of vowels denotes negative charge quantity. Inclusion of the word ate signies that each ends with the
letters a-t-e

Good Xylophones Use Very Interesting Musical

Rhythms.[21] Similarly, Good Xylophonists Use Very
Interesting Musical Rhythms.

10

Hydrogen bonds

13 Periodic table

Hydrogen forms hydrogen bonds with three elements 13.1 Periods

which are nitrogen (N), oxygen (O) and uorine (F). The
names of these elements can be remembered by the fol- 13.1.1 Periods 1, 2 and 3
lowing mnemonic.
Hydrogen is FON! (fun).[7]

11
11.1

EASIEST AND POPULAR : *Hi He Lied Because

Boron Could Not Oxidize Fluorine. New Nations Might
Also Sign Peace Security Clause. Arthur King Can. (till
Ca)

Organic chemistry
Carboxylic acids

Common names of homogeneous aliphatic carboxylic

acids,

Little Ben Became Charlies Number One Fighting

Nemesis.
Native Magpies Always
Searching Clear Areas.[27]

Frogs Are Polite, Being Very Courteous.[22]

11.2

Sit

Peacefully

Happy Henry Likes Beer But Could Not Obtain Four

Nuts.

Dicarboxylic acids

Naughty Magpies Always Sing Perfect Songs

Clawing Ants.[28]

The sequence of dicarboxylic acids can be remembered

with following mnemonics.

Here He Lies Beneath Bed Clothes, Nothing On,

Feeling Nervous.

Oh My Such, Good Apples.[23]

Oh My Stars, Green Apples.
Oh My, Such Good Apple Pie,
Sugar.[24][25]

Naughty Margaret Always Sighs, "Please Stop

Clowning Around. [29]

Sweet As

Hi Hello Little Beryll Brown Cracking Nuts On

Friday .

Oh My Stars, Go Ahead Please[7]

11.3

Aromatic compounds

Nellies Naughty Magpie Always Sings Pop

Songs Clearly

11.3.1

m-directing groups

After Killing Cathy.[29]

Queen Elizabeth Seconds

Controls, Communicates.[26]
11.3.2

Navy

Commands,

o,p-directing groups

AHA AHA P.

[26]

Note: -NH2,-NHR and NR2 are para directing groups but

not -NR3+

12

Mohs scale of mineral hardness

To remember the Mohs hardness of minerals;

Tall Gene Calls Florence At Our Quarters To Correct
Dumbness.[4]

Hi! He Lies Because Boron CanNot Oxidize

Fluorine. Necromantic Nato Mg (abbv. for make
good)
All Silicon Ports. Superman Clean Argons KCapture.[30]

Happy Harry Listens B B C Network Over France

Nevertheless Nothing More Arose So Peter Stopped
Cleaning Airgun K Ca.[31]
Harry Helped Little Benny Balmer Carry Neat
Oranges From Neptunes Natural Menagerie Always
Singing Polite Sonnets Clearly Arf Key Casually.
Harry Helpes Little Betty Brown Crack Nuts On
Friday Nights.

13
Ha. Healthy Little Beggar Boys Catching Newts Or
Fish.[32]

B A G I T (bag it)

Hell, Here Little Beatniks Brandish Countless

Number Of Flick kNives.[33]

Bring All Gas In Thailand

Nagging Maggie Always Sighs, "Please Stop

Clowning Around. [29] (adapted)
13.1.2

PERIODIC TABLE

Bounding Alligators Gates Increase Terribly

BaAl Gangadhar Indian Tilak

13.2.4 Group 14

Period 4
Carbon, Silicon, Germanium, Tin, Lead

PoKey Captain Scans Tight Virgin Crew Members

Fer Cold Night Cuddles. Zany Gray Germs Are Sold
By Kremlin.

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

Can Simple
(Lead)?[19]

Germans

Snare

(Tiny)

Public

In reverse order: Kry Brother! SeAs of Germany

and Gaul sink copper ships Nice and Cold From
Manx to Crimea, Vancouver to Timor, and
13.2.5 Group 15 (pnictogens)
Scandinavia to the California Koast.[34]

13.2

Groups

13.2.1

Group 1 (alkali metals)

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Arsenic, Antimony, Bismuth

New Popes Assign Subordinate Bishops.[19]
Hydrogen, Lithium, Sodium, Potassium, Rubidium, Cesium, Francium

Non-Prot As anti-money Business. *

13.2.6 Group 16 (chalcogens)

Highly Nasty Kids Rub Cat 's Fur.[19]

Happy Little Nasty Kids Rub Cats Fur
13.2.2

Group 2 (alkaline earth metals)

Oxygen, Sulphur (or Sulfur), Selenium, Tellurium, Polonium

Oversized Sailors Sell and Tell about Polo cologne.

Beryllium, Magnesium, Calcium, Strontium, Barium,

Radium

Old TSangpo Seem Terribly Polluted.[19]

Oliver Smith Sells Tea Pots.

Bearded Muggers Came Straight Back Rapidly.

Beer Mugs Can Serve Bar Rats.[19]
13.2.3

13.2.7 Group 17 (halogens)

Group 13
Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Astatine

Boron, Aluminum, Gallium, Indium, Thallium

Fleeing Chlorine-layers
Astonish.[35]

&

Bromine,

Boring Aluminum Galleys Indigestible Tally-list.[35]

Funny Clowns Broil Innocent Ants.[19]

Bears Always Give Indians Trouble.[19]

First Class Biryani In Austria.

Id

13.5
13.2.8

Miscellaneous
Group 18 (noble gases)

Helium, Neon, Argon, Krypton, Xenon, Radon

Hero Needs Arguable Kryptic Xes. Right-on.[35]
He Never Arrived; Karen eXited with Ron.[19]

13.3

Transition metals

13.3.1

First

5
13.4.2 Actinides

Radiant Acting Thoroughly Protects yoUr Nepotism,

Plutocratic America Cures-me & Berkeley
California, Einstein Firmly Mended Noble
Lawreins.[35]
Three Planets: Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Amy
Cured Berkeley, California. Einstein and Fermi
Made Noble Laws.[19]

13.5 Miscellaneous
56 in sequence

Scary Tiny Vicious Creatures Mean Females Come

Nightly to Club Z.[19]
Scabby Tim Violates Crummy, Mangy, Ferrets,
Cows and Nice Cute Zebras.[20]
Saint Thomas Very Carefully Made Five Completely
New Copies of Zarathustha.[36]
13.3.2

Second

Yes Sir, Nob. Most Technicians Rub Rods Pale

Silver Cadillac.[19]
13.3.3

Third

Larrys Half Taken, Wendy Reached Out Her Plate

Audibly, Helga.[19]

13.4

Lanthanides and actinides

13.4.1

Lanthanides

Here Lies Benjamin Bones. Cry Not Oh Friend

Needlessly.
Nature Magnies 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.[30]

14 Abundance of elements
14.1 On Earths crust
Oh S(i)ee Al Fee Cah Mig NacK.[14]

15 Biochemistry
Lame Celibate Prudes Need Promiscuous Smut with 15.1 Krebs cycle
European Gods. Troublesome Dying Ho, its Erotic
To remember Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle, tricarboxylic
Time, You bitch Lust!
acid cycle);
Ladies Can't Put Nickels Properly in Slot-machines.
Every Girl Tries Daily, However, Every Time You
Look.[36]

Caesars Armies Invaded Other Kingdoms Searching

For Many Oranges.[14]

18

15.2

Plant nutrients

To remember the elements necessary for agriculture;

REFERENCES

16.3 Cis/trans (geometric) isomers: arrangement of functional groups

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

C (see) Hopkins CaFe, Mighty-good Man, Cu Trans, therefore is the other one by default..[43]
(see your) Money, hope they are Closed or out of
Business.[37]

16.4 Gibbs free energy formula

For remembering macronutrients;
C. HOPKiN'S CaFe Mg (C. Hopkins coee mug).

15.3

"Good Honey Tastes Sweet":

(delta)G = H - T(delta)S.[44]

16.5 Oxidation
vs.
reduction:
electrochemical cell and electron
gain/loss
and TT HALL Very

Essential amino acids

PVT TIM HaLL[38]

IMPortant.[39]

AN OIL RIG CAT:

LIFT HIM KIW(V)I

At the ANode, Oxidation Involves Loss of electrons.

TV FILM HW(R)K.

Reduction Involves
CAThode.[45]

Any Help In Learning These Little Molecules Proves

Truly Valuable.[40] This method begins with the two
amino acids that need some qualications as to their
requirements.
There as [a] fat man [that] hated vanilla icing, [but]
loved Kit-Kats.

Gaining

electrons

at

the

17 See also
List of medical mnemonics
List of mnemonics

18 References
16

Miscellaneous

16.1

Benzene ring: order of substitutes

Benzene likes to ROMP":

From R group moving around the ring:
R group
Ortho
Meta

[2] Oon Hock Leong/ Edmund Ang Joon Aik (2007). for
remember alkali metals&f=false Chemistry expression:
an inquiry approach. 'O' level science (chemistry) [textbook]. Panpac Education Pte Ltd. p. 243. ISBN
9789812711656. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
[3] Syamal, Arun. Metals, Non-metals and Metallurgy. for
remember alkali metals&f=false Living Science Chemistry
10. Ratna Sagar. p. 97. ISBN 9788183322898. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
[4] Mnemonic devices for: Chemistry.
device.eu. Retrieved 2012-08-09.

Para.[41]

16.2

[1] 15th page

Cis/trans (geometric) isomer nomenclature

"Zame Zide. Epposite.":

Z is the 2 functional groups on the same side of double
bond.
E is for opposite sides.[42]

Mnemonic-

[5] Peter
J.
Mikulecky,
Michelle
Rose
Gilman,
Kate
Brutlag
(2008).
Cats+have+paws"+chem&hl=en&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=cats
have paws&f=false AP Chemistry For Dummies (Illustrated ed.). John Wiley & Sons, 2008. p. 30. ISBN
9780470389768.
[6] Kevin M. Dunn (16 March 2010). Scientic Soapmaking:
The Chemistry of the Cold Process. Clavicula Press. pp.
386. ISBN 978-1-935652-09-0. Retrieved 10 August
2012.

[7] Subhash Jain (1 January 2009). Improve Your Memory.

Prabhat Prakashan. p. 117. ISBN 978-81-8430-035-2.
Retrieved 28 December 2012.
[8] MedicalMnemonics Full Abridged. Medicalmnemonics.com. p. 36. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
[9] Nick Lane (26 March 2004). Oxygen: The Molecule that
Made the World. Oxford University Press. pp. 18. ISBN
978-0-19-860783-0. Retrieved 10 August 2012.

[28] Table.pdf
[29] Mnemonic: Sentences to remember the elements.
Ict4us.com. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
[30] Science Jokes:11. MNEMONICS : 11.5 CHEMISTRY. Jcdverha.home.xs4all.nl. Retrieved 2012-0724.
[31] Chemical formula. Periodic table mnemonic (memory
device)". Chemicalformula.org. Retrieved 2012-07-24.

[10] Rene Fester Kratz, PhD (2 June 2009). Molecular and

Cell Biology For Dummies. John Wiley & Sons. pp. 70.
ISBN 978-0-470-43066-8. Retrieved 10 August 2012.

[32] Kids Tips for Easy Learning - Mnumonics. Betterendings.org. Retrieved 2012-07-24.

[11] Chemistry - Mnemonic.

trieved 2012-07-24.

[33] Martin Berry (30 Nov 1972). table mnemonic&f=false

A dictionary of mnemonics. New Scientist (Reed Business
Information. (Eyre Mithuen)). p. 535.

Chemistrydaily.com.

Re-

[12] Mrs Jacqueline Hilary Briggs, Rex M Heyworth. Lcg Ol

Chemistry. Pearson Education South Asia. pp. 142.
ISBN 978-981-06-0008-2. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
[13] http://lsc.ucdavis.edu/~{}holliste/Jim2A/nomenclature_
Jim.pdf
[14] Mnemonics for chem 3 2010.ppt (PDF). Retrieved
2012-10-16.
[15] http://resources.teachnet.ie/pkavanagh/2005/
electrochemicalSeries.pdf
[16] Chemistry Mnemonics.
trieved 2012-07-24.

Bookbuilder.cast.org.

Re-

[17] Zack Ouellette

[18] http://www.freechemteacher.org/Recommended_
Resources_files/Mnemonics for Chemistry.pdf
[19] http://bradley.bradley.edu/~{}campbell/mnemonic.html

[34] CHEMISTRY AND BIOCHEMISTRY A very

nice site of Anatomy Mnemonics by John Berger.
Img.com.tripod.com. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
[35] http://www.springerlink.com/content/
n4041407123843k4/fulltext.pdf
[36] Carl C. Gaither; Alma E. Cavazos-Gaither (2002).
Chemically Speaking: A Dictionary of Quotations/selected
and Arranged by Carl C. Gaither and Alma E. CavazosGaither. CRC Press. pp. 8283. ISBN 978-0-75030682-9. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
[37] Mnemonic:
Elements necessary for agriculture.
Ict4us.com. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
[38] MedicalMnemonics.com: 442 128
[39]

MATT VIL PLy Essential amino acids Essential amino

acids, Mnemonic.

[20] Amazing Science Experiments. The Science Cupboard.

Retrieved 2012-08-09.

[40] Williams, R.A.D.; Eliot, J.C. (1989). Basic and Applied

Dental Biochemistry. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 149.
ISBN 0-443-03144-4.

[21] John Watts, Aleksander Jedrosz, Susan Loxley (2006).

to remember the order of electromagnetic waves&f=false
Gcse Edexcel Science. Letts and Lonsdale. p. 81. ISBN
9781905129638. Retrieved 27 January 2012.

[41] MedicalMnemonics Full Abridged. Medicalmnemonics.com. p. 36. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

[22] Jonathan Dee, H. Stephen Stoker (2009). Remember diCarboxylic acids&f=false Organic and Biological Chemistry (5 ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 157. ISBN
9780547168043.
[23] William Henry Brown, Brent L. Iverson (2009).
Remember Carboxylic acids&f=false Organic chemistry
(5, illustrated ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 621. ISBN
9780495388579. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
[24] Mnemonic: Dicarboxilic Acids. Ict4us.com. Retrieved
2012-07-24.
[25] Organic Chemistry Nomenclature. Translationjournal.net. 1997-11-24. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
[26] MCAT Mnemonics Organic Chemistry Flash Cards.
Cram.com. 2008-08-16. Retrieved 2012-07-24.
[27] http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed084p1918

[42] MedicalMnemonics Full Abridged. Medicalmnemonics.com. p. 36. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

[43] MedicalMnemonics Full Abridged. Medicalmnemonics.com. p. 36. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
[44] MedicalMnemonics Full Abridged. Medicalmnemonics.com. p. 36. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
[45] MedicalMnemonics Full Abridged. Medicalmnemonics.com. p. 36. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

19 Further reading
Template:Bare-section
http://www.freechemteacher.org/Recommended_
Resources_files/Mnemonics for Chemistry.pdf

20
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

20

External links

Mnemonics for the Entire Periodic Table

EXTERNAL LINKS

21
21.1

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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List of chemistry mnemonics Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20chemistry%20mnemonics?oldid=647391895 Contributors: Hyacinth, Rjwilmsi, Gilliam, Wikid77, Magioladitis, Arno Matthias, Jlittlenz, Sintaku, Cewall0, Lova Falk, Cnilep, Stever Augustus,
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21.2

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21.3

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