# Is there a song to learn the Atomic Table of Elements? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 16, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435 "2004-07-16T15:50:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/1 "2004-07-16T15:50:49Z")
I was just wondering if there was a little ditty to learning the atomic table. I don’t need to learn it for any specific reason. I just like songs that help people learn things. You know cognitive mapping stuff. 🙂 For instance, [here](http://sun.science.wayne.edu/~jram/physongs.htm) is one for learning the physiology of the inner ear and the biochemistry of synapses. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/2 "2004-07-16T15:56:09Z")
The Elements by Tom Lehrer. ---
**Author:** ![kellner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c2a13f/32.png) [@kellner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kellner)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/3 "2004-07-16T15:59:05Z")
Here is a little animation that you might like: [http://www.privatehand.com/flash/elements.html](http://www.privatehand.com/flash/elements.html) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/4 "2004-07-16T16:02:44Z")
[Tom Lehrer wrote one](http://chemlab.pc.maricopa.edu/periodic/lyrics.html) back in 1959. I don’t know that it would really help as a mnemonic, though, as there are so many similar-sounding names. There’s a [Flash version](http://www.privatehand.com/flash/elements.html), too. On which note, do people really find songs useful to remember these things? I never have done, for some reason. Singing (or learning by rote) times tables? Nope, I just work 'em out in my head as I go along, or recall them from memory. Takes a second or two at most. Which months have 30 days? I’ve never understood how this song was meant to be an aide-memoire when **many of the months rhyme - duh! - so it would scan equally well with the months in the wrong place!**. See: 30 days hath November, April, May and December… Scans just as well, but is utterly wrong. Even now, the only way I can get the song right is to count along my knuckles (on a knuckle = 31 days, between knuckles = 30 (or 28/29)) and then substitute the right months. On preview: my mini rant means others have beaten me to it. Hmmph. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/5 "2004-07-16T16:23:50Z")
Tom Lehrer’s song is cute, but utterly worthless as a mnemonic device for learing the elements and their order on the periodic table. I did find an interesting menomic device [here](http://194.94.42.12/licensed_materials/00897/papers/0002001/21vm897.pdf) (Warning: PDF). Not exactly a song, though. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/6 "2004-07-16T16:29:53Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > On which note, do people really find songs useful to remember these things? “Fifty nifty United States, from the thirteen original colonies . . .” This song, which I learned in the fifth grade, has a catchy chorus: “Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut . . .” Comes in handy when I need to check an alphabetized list of states. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/7 "2004-07-16T16:31:07Z")
Not that it’s ever been any use to me (maybe one day in some bizzare set of circumstances) but the Tom Lehrer song does remind you that elements like Holmium - (Helium) - Hafnium - Erbium, Yttrium - Ytterbrium - Actinium - Rubidium and the like exist. I think it does the job, after all you don’t want to have to carry a periodic table everywhere for all those times people ask you to name all the elements. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/8 "2004-07-16T16:37:52Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > “Fifty nifty United States, from the thirteen original colonies . . .” This song, which I learned in the fifth grade, has a catchy chorus: “Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut . . .” > > Comes in handy when I need to check an alphabetized list of states. Yes, indeedy. 5th grade for me, too. _Very_ handy - amazing how many times it has come up over the years. ---
**Author:** ![toadspittle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c0e974/32.png) [@toadspittle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toadspittle)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/9 "2004-07-16T16:41:24Z")
> [@Gravity](#): > > Yes, indeedy. 5th grade for me, too. _Very_ handy - amazing how many times it has come up over the years. My fifth grade class, too. Damn, that horrible song has been useful. For my part, though, I always found the "New… " (New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York…) section creepy. It busts into a weird little chant. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/10 "2004-07-16T17:08:35Z")
> [@Scarlett67](#): > > “Fifty nifty United States, from the thirteen original colonies . . .” This song, which I learned in the fifth grade, has a catchy chorus: “Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut . . .” Catchy? I guess you need to know the tune, huh… I realised after posting that **Phl** was probably after a mnemonic to remember the _order_ of the Table. I studied chemistry for four years – in fact I am a _Master of Chemistry_ (mwa ha ha, evil laugh, etc) – and my tutor taught me this one to remember the first 20 elements: **H** arry **He** lped **Li** ttle **Be** nny **B** all **C** arry **N** ine **O** ranges **F** rom **Ne** ptune’s **Na** tural **M** ena **g** erie, **Al** ways **Si** nging **P** retty **S** onnets, **Cl** early **Ar** f **K** ey, **Ca** sually. The “arf key” bit is a bit rubbish, but I always remember it… Of course, you then have to remember what the symbols represent 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/11 "2004-07-16T17:23:37Z")
Wow, thank you guys very much. I’m developing a collection of everything that has some sort of song, or in this case some sort of graphic. > [@Colophon](#): > > snip…On which note, do people really find songs useful to remember these things? I never have done, for some reason. Singing (or learning by rote) times tables? Nope, I just work 'em out in my head as I go along, or recall them from memory. Takes a second or two at most. Yes, very much so. The more empirical the lesson the more a student will remember. I’ll even go as far to say if students taking notes during a lecture said each word they wrote, their grades in said class would more likely than not, sky-rocket. Thats why the golden rule in memorizing something is to write **and** say each word/problem/formula in your list and you will retain for much longer periods. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/12 "2004-07-16T18:46:48Z")
Or you could just do it the grunt work way: memorise it. I did that on a bet over one weekend in Grade 11: each element, in order, with atomic numbers and average atomic weights. The weights were the hardest part. Stayed with me through undergrad, when I was still doing some science classes, but I’ve not needed the info for years so I let it slip. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/13 "2004-07-16T19:02:21Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > Or you could just do it the grunt work way: memorise it. I did that on a bet over one weekend in Grade 11: each element, in order, with atomic numbers and average atomic weights… Man, that must have been a \*_boron_ weekend. You didn’t get to **xenon** of your friends or get **lead** astray at a party! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/14 "2004-07-16T19:05:50Z")
Son of a **bismuth**! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/15 "2004-07-16T22:04:13Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > On which note, do people really find songs useful to remember these things? I never have done, for some reason. Singing (or learning by rote) times tables? Nope, I just work 'em out in my head as I go along, or recall them from memory. Takes a second or two at most. \ We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, secure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution, of the United States of America. \ ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/16 "2004-07-16T22:05:58Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > \ > > We the people, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, secure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution, of the United States of America. > > \ Whoops! Hit submit too soon. I was going to add that this is after a good 25-30 years since I last heard that particular jingle…seems to work fairly well. ---
**Author:** ![MalFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@MalFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MalFrog)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/17 "2004-07-16T22:54:09Z")
Not exactly a song. But I allways grouped the letters thus… H He Li Be BCNOF Ne NaM gAl SiPS ClArK Ca Pronounced - “Heh Hee Lie Be Buconov Nee Nam Gal Sips Clark Ca” It sort of slips off the toungue if you get the intonation right. Ten years ago I could do all 109 (yes I know they’re up to 118 or something by now). And it went something like - Ga Gee Assey Br Kr Rub Srinsen Sub Tee Ixekiss Battle Puby Po-At Run Fr Ra Scutty Vucre Munfe Coney Cuzuny Zrinub Motuck Roo Ruh Pudag Cudlou Half-torie Osirupta Uhug Laceprnud PumSumEugud TubDe Hoer TumYub Actupa YouNup PooAm CumBackCufess FumMud No. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![bizzwire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@bizzwire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bizzwire)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/18 "2004-07-16T23:07:18Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#): > > I think it does the job, after all you don’t want to have to carry a periodic table everywhere … Uh…I do. For "National Chemistry Week " the American Chemistry Society issued a “Proud to be a chemist” card with a handy-dandy periodic table on the back. I Never leave the lab without it. But then again, I am a total dork. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2004, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/19 "2004-07-16T23:46:35Z")
> [@bizzwire](#): > > Uh…I do. For "National Chemistry Week " the American Chemistry Society issued a “Proud to be a chemist” card with a handy-dandy periodic table on the back. > > I Never leave the lab without it. But then again, I am a total dork. \ It’s National Chemistry Week National Chemistry Week Bizzwire had the table because he is a geek \ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435/20 "2004-07-17T01:04:31Z")
Have No Fear of Ice Cold Beer. Helps you remember the diatomic ions H[sub]2[/sub], N [sub]2[/sub], F[sub]2[/sub], O [sub]2[/sub], I[sub]2[/sub], Cl[sub]2[/sub], Br[sub]2[/sub]. It’s a start, and it’ll stick with you. A [pic](http://wps.prenhall.com/wps/media/objects/602/616516/Media_Assets/Chapter02/Text_Images/FG02_09-02UN.JPG) of their places on the chart. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-song-to-learn-the-atomic-table-of-elements/255435.md?page=2)