What I have my 8th grade students do, as far as memorizing is concerned, is make flash cards with the first 20 elements, from hydrogen to calcium. On these flash cards they have the element name on one side of the card (correctly spelled), while on the other side of the card, at the top we have the atomic number. In the middle of the card, we put the atomic symbol, using the correct rules of capitalization. At the bottom, we put the rounded atomic mass number. I have them drill with the flash cards for about a week, then we have a "fill-in-the-blank" type test to assess their knowledge.
As far as navigating the periodic table, I stress to my students the different groupings across the top of the chart, starting with group 1, the alkaline metals. Then, group 2, the alkaline-earth metals, skipping over to group 7A (or group 17, depending on your textbook), the halogens, finishing with group 8A (18), the noble gases. We come back and visit the transition metals, which serve as the bridge, later.
I dissect the chart by color, showing students that most of the elements are metals, on the left of the chart. To the far right, we have nonmetals. The stair-step line, which serves as the border between those two groups, are flanked with metalloid elements. The periodic table is like everything else, of studious substance: the more you work with it, the more familiar it gets.
Its just like Multiplication table you have to keep on reading and repeating it.
The best way to remember is, read in the streach of 10 elements and try to remember it and when you are done with it move to next 10 elements then again read it from the starting and remember complete 20 elements. and when you are completely confident that you remembered the first 20 elements then only move to next 10 and then next 10 and follow the same procedure.
The ultimate way to remember will be read it in a rhyming form and follow same process as i mentioned. And your task of remembring becomes simple.
Do it every day.
What is the easiest way to learn Periodic Table?
The easiest way to learn anything is going to depend greatly upon the person studying. For instance, I am a very visual learner. When I need to study or learn new material, I write it down and color code the information. I also do very well with flash cards. For the Periodic Table of elements, flash cards might be very helpful. If you are trying to remember the position of all the elements on the chart, your flash cards could double as a puzzle. Practice putting it together over and over until you have it memorized. Another way to memorize the chemical elements and their abbreviations might be a word trick. Try to find something in or about the chemical name that relates to the abbreviation. For example, the abbreviation for table salt or sodium chloride is Na Cl. Chloride is easy to remember because the abbreviation is actually in...
See This Answer Now
Start your 48-hour free trial to unlock this answer and thousands more. Enjoy eNotes ad-free and cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
first part of the word. Na for sodium might take a little more effort. Perhaps trying to associate it with something easy to remember would be helpful. For instance, I used to say "Nah, no salt for me" to remember that Na was salt or sodium.
IS there any easy way to learn the periodic table?
Some people can commit songs to memory easily. In the first two links below, are periodic table songs that can aid you in memorizing the periodic table of elements. Another method can be seen in the third link from About.com chemistry. It uses mnemonic devices to help memorization become easier. If you remember the phrase, and know the element symbols, you can memorize the order of the elements. For example, HeLies Because Boys Can Not Operate Fireplaces stands for Helium, Lithium, Beryllium, Boron, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen and Fluorine. This represents elements 2 through 9. Try making up some more mnemonic devices of your own to ease memorization. Good luck.