Periodic Table Memory Pegs

Each picture in this periodic table is designed to remind you of the element's name, atomic number, and abbreviation. Point to the element to see its name and number. Click on the element for more explanation and then "Back" to return to the table. There is also an explanation of how to use the pictures as memory pegs. You can also see the name and number of the element by pointing to it and reading the address in the status window at the bottom. At least memorize the first twenty! Each of those first 20 also has a unique color which can also be used for memorizing a list of tweny objects by associating a color with each.

Atomic Numbers 1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-105

©John P. Pratt, all rights reserved
Icons drawn by David R. Pratt
16 September 1997
updated 2 Feb 2006 to show data better with mouse
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Atomic Number Memory Pegs: 1-20

Using these Atomic Number Memory Pegs is described in the explanation They are also arranged in the shape of a periodic table. (&@ top of post)


1. Hydrant (Hydrogen H). Blue for "first place" (blue ribbon) and for water, its principal compound; tall and thin, shaped like a "1". Hydrant sounds like hydrogen (both refer to water).

2. Helium Balloon (Helium He). Silver colored for "second place" (silver medal); a noble color for a noble gas.

3. Lithium watch battery (Lithium Li), 3-volt. Lilac colored (sounds like lithium and all three natural minerals are lilac colored).

4. Beryl-studded Belt Buckle (Beryllium Be). Rectangular (4 sides), with four pink beryls (beryl is a pink gem: beryllium aluminum silicate).

5. Box of Borax (Boron B). 5-pound box, dark brown, the color of pure boron (borax is hydrated sodium borate).

6. Charcoal pencil (Carbon C). Black, the color of charcoal and also of graphite (carbon) in pencil leads. Hexagonal (6-sided).

7. Dynamite, or Nitroglycerin (Nitrogen N). Two red sticks, shaped like a "7" (most explosives contain nitrogen).

8. Oxygen-filled Lifepreservers (Oxygen O). White for air, which preserves life. Two of them touching, shaped like an "8".

9. Fluoride Toothpaste (Fluorine F). Purple, the color of the mineral fluorite (calcium fluoride), and shaped like a 9.

10. Neon Sign (Neon Ne). Shaped like a "10," flashing orange, like the orange/red color of neon in neon signs.

11. Narrow Soda Crackers (Sodium Na). Two of them, bright yellow, shaped like an "11," like the bright yellow sodium D spectral lines. Sodium is named for soda (sodium carbonate).

12. Mug. (Magnesium Mg) 12 oz. green mug made of olivine (magnesium silicate), filled with milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide). Magnesium in chlorophyll gives plants their green color.

13. Aluminum Ladder (Aluminum Al). Unlucky to walk under, and 13 is unlucky. Turquoise (blue-green) colored (turquoise is hydrated aluminum phosphate.

14. Silicon Chip (Silicon Si). It as 14 pins, and is the tan color of sand (silicon dioxide) or sandstone (silica).

15. Phosphorus Matches (Phosphorus P). Red/white striped book of 15, heads white, striker red (there are both white and red forms of phosphorus). The matches could light the dynamite (nitrogen) in the periodic table.


16. Sulfuric Acid (Sulfur S). One pint (16 oz.), pale yellow in a flask.

17.Clorox (Chlorine Cl). Yellow-green bottle, the color of chlorine gas ("chloros" means yellow-green in Greek). Cleans 17 ways (Clorox is sodium hypochlorite). Note that Clorox has no letter "h" making it easy to remember the abbreviation Cl.


18. Argon-filled Fluorescent Light (Argon Ar). 18-inch, sky-blue (air is 1% argon).

19. Kettle, or Pot of gray Ashes (Potassium K). 19th-century way to make soap from potash (potassium is named for potash, potassium carbonate or hydroxide, which is named for the pot of ashes used to obtain it).

20. Calcite Pearls (Calcium Ca). Ivory A string of 20 pearls. Calcite is a form of calcium carbonate.
 
Atomic Numbers 1-20 41-60 61-80 81-105

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Atomic Number Memory Pegs: 21-40

Using these Atomic Number Memory Pegs is described in the explanation They are also arranged in the shape of a periodic table. (&@ top of post)


21. Scandal Page (Scandium Sc). One should be 21 years old to read the scandal page of the newspaper.

22. Titanic (Titanium Ti). The Titanic had 2200 passengers when it hit an iceberg and sank.


23. Chev Van (Vanadium V). 23-passenger van made with vanadium steel.


24. Chrome-plated Creamer (Chromium Cr). 24-oz. pitcher of cream


25. Autumn Mangos (Manganese Mn). 25 of them,


26. Ferris Wheel (Iron Fe). 26-seats and made of iron. Sounds like "ferrous," which refers to iron.


27. Cobblestone (Cobalt Co). It is a 3" cube, so it has a volume of 27 cubic inches.

28. Nickel (Nickel Ni). In 1928, the year before the Great Depression, people had more money (a nickel) than in the next year ('29). The U.S. coin called a "nickel" used to be made of nickel.

29. Copper Penny (Copper Cu). The Currency during the Great Depression which began in'29.

30. Brazen and zinc sink (Zinc Zn). Made of galvanized iron (iron coated with zinc), with $30 brass (brazen means brass) faucet. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. Sink sounds like zinc.


31. Galleon (Gallium Ga). The old Spanish galleons had three masts, each of which looked like a "1," to remind us of 31.

32. German beer. (Germanium Ge) A quart stein (32 fl. oz.) of German beer. Germanium was named for Germany.

33. A skull & crossbones (Arsenic As). Rat poison is arsenic trioxide, commonly called simply "arsenic." In other forms, such as is found in apples, arsenic is nutritious. Arsenic has three natural varieties: black, gray and yellow, as shown by the three colors in the icon.

34. Sensitive solar cell leaning (Selenium Se). Leaning at a 34° angle off vertical. Sounds like selenium. Solar cells often contain selenium.

35. Broom (Bromine Br). 35 Bristles (seven rows of five). In the periodic table, note that all the elements in this column are cleaners.

36. Krypton Yardstick. (Krypton Kr). One yard is 36 inches. Kryton gas is used to define the scientific unit of length, the meter, which is about a yard long.


37. Superb ruby (Rubidium Rb). red ruby, 37-carat.


38. Israeli Strongbox (Strontium Sr). Bright red because the red in most fireworks is from strontium. It weighs 38 pounds.


39. A Tree (Yttrium Y). Y-shaped, with a "39" carved in it. Sounds like yttrium.


40. Ezra's Zircon Ring (Zirconium Zr). Only cost $40.


Atomic Numbers 1-20 41-60 61-80 81-105
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Atomic Number Memory Pegs: 41-60

Using these Atomic Number Memory Pegs is described in the explanation They are also arranged in the shape of a periodic table.  (&@ top of post)


41. Unbearable Onion (Niobium Nb). "For one" person only. Sounds like Niobium and like "4,1". In Greek mythology, Niobe wept for the loss of her children, like an onion makes you weep.

42. Molly's Denims (Molybdenum Mo). 42" waist. Sounds like Molybdenum.

43. Dutch Technician (Technetium Tc). 43-years-old. Technetium was made synthetically; it is not stable enough to be found in nature.

44. Ruth's hen (Ruthenium Ru). It's feet look like 44 and "Ruth's hen" sounds like Ruthenium. It is also by the wren and ostrich in the periodic table.


45. Road in Rhode Island. (Rhodium Rh). Speed Limit 45 m.p.h.


46. Top dog Palace (Palladium Pd). The sultan has 46 wives in its 46 towers, which look like 46.


47. Agnes's Silver Dime (Silver Ag). '47 was A Good year after WW II. (Silver is "argentum" in Latin).

48. CD Caddy (Cadmium Cd) The caddy holds 4 dozen (48) CD's.

49. India Ink (Indium In). 49 cent bottle.

50. Tin Can (Tin Sn). Contains 50 Snails. Tin cans are made of steel sometimes covered with a thin layer of tin.


51. Ant money. (Antimony Sb). Taking small bills ($5 and $1) to its passbook account.

52. Deck of 52 Cards (Tellurium Te). "Tell your" fortune. (Sounds like Tellurium)

53. Iodine (Iodine I). Bottle costs 53 cents.

54. Zenith television, watching "Xena" (Xenon Xe). On channel 54; a TV tube contains xenon gas.

55. Cesium Standard Clock (Cesium Cs). A physics clock. It reads 5:05; time to go home.

56. Bad Berries (Barium Ba). Poisonous. About 5/6 of all white berries are poisonous (really). Black are usually edible.


57. Lantern (Lanthanum La). 57 candle-power.


58. Cereal bowl (Cerium Ce). Has 58 nutrients.


59. Praying mantis (Praseodymium Pr). Eats 59 bugs.


60. No Dim Lights (Neodymium Nd). Triangular sign has 60° angles. Bright lights can blind.

 
Atomic Numbers 1-20 21-40 61-80 81-105
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Atomic Number Memory Pegs: 61-80

Using these Atomic Number Memory Pegs is described in the explanation They are also arranged in the shape of a periodic table.  (&@ top of page)
 
61. Prominent fire (Promethium Pm). Fire is needed after 6:10 p.m. Promethius brought fire to mankind. The flames look like 61.

62. Small samurai sword (Samarium Sm). 62 generations of use.


63. European rope (63 feet long). (Europium Eu).


64. Magdalene's Cattle (Gadolinium Gd). "Cattle" sounds like "gadol"inium. Checkerboard pattern (a checkerboard has 8x8 = 64 squares).


65. Bright blue turban (Terbium Tb). 65" long.


66. Dandy disposal (Dysprosium Dy). Disposes garbage in 6.6 seconds.


67. Home (Holmium Ho). This home has room for 6 or 7 children.

68. Herb (Erbium Er). The stems and leaves form a hidden 68 in the picture.

69. Christmas Tulip (Thulium Tm). Red and green for Christmas. 69 kinds.

70. Ladybug Litterbag. (Ytterbium Yb). A litterbag (small portable trash bag), which sounds like Ytterium, with a ladybug picture on it with 70 spots. Litterbags were popular in the '70s.


71. Lute (Lutetium Lu). 7 Strings on 1 Lute (71).

72. Faithful Half Dollar. (Hafnium Hf). 72 is half a gross (of 144). Also, there are 72 ounces of silver in $100 of silver halves (or quarters or dimes). The ones dated 1964 or earlier are silver.

73. Tan Tall Man (Tantalum Ta). He is 7' 3" tall basketball player.

74. Westinghouse light bulb (Tungsten W). 74 Watt, with tungsten filament. Another name for tungsten is Wolfram, which explains the abbreviation.

75. Wren (Rhenium Re). Visualize 75 of them on a telephone line.

76. Ostrich (Osmium Os). 7'6" Tall. Also, its neck & head look like a 7 and its body like a 6.


77. Iridescent Rainbow (Iridium Ir). 7 Colors in a rainbow (77). Iris was the Greek goddess of the rainbow.


78. Platinum Record (Platinum Pt). The old kind that rotated at a speed of 78 rpm. Recorded by "The Egyptians." A platinum recording sold more copies than a gold, and platinum is worth more than gold.


79. Gold Coin (Gold Au). A '79 A.U. (Almost Uncirculated.) The latin word for gold is aurum.


80. High-grade Thermometer (Mercury Hg). Showing 80 degrees.


Atomic Numbers 1-20 21-40 41-60 81-105
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Atomic Number Memory Pegs: 81-105

Using these Atomic Number Memory Pegs is described in the explanation They are also arranged in the shape of a periodic table.  (&@ top of page)


81. Tallow Candle (Thallium Tl). 81. Looks like a "1" and sounds like "tallow." Used in castles.

82. Lead Plumbing (Lead Pb). Under the cupboard. 82% lead. The latin word for lead is plumbum.


83. Pepto Bismol (Bismuth Bi). I "ate 3" teaspoons of Pepto Bismol (sounds like "83"). Pepto Bismol contains Bismuth Subsalicylate.


84. Polo Stick (Polonium Po). 7 dozen (84) polo sticks.


85. A tall Aster [85 petals] (Astatine At). The flowers, stem and leaf form an "85".


86. Radar warning. (Radon Rn). Protection for 86 miles.


87. France's Eiffel Tower (Francium Fr). Built for the World's Fair and commemorated the centenniel of the French Revolution which technically began in 1787.

88. Radio (Radium Ra). Piano music (88 keys) on FM 88.

89. Actor (Actinium Ac). He won 89 oscars.

90. Thorn (Thorium Th). Thorns stick out at 90° angle.


91. Paper protractor (Protactinium Pa). Measuring 91°, one degree more than a right angle. Use it to measure the angle of the thorns next to it.

92. Uranium A-Bomb. (Uranium U). 92 Kilotons. Memorize Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (the planets in a row) for 92, 93, 94.

93. Neptunian pitchfork (Neptunium Np). Neptune's trident is 9' long with 3 prongs. Memorize Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (the planets in a row) for 92, 93, 94.

94. Pluto the Pup (Plutonium Pu). Mickey Mouse's dog. Memorize Uranus, Neptune and Pluto (the planets in a row) for 92, 93, 94, and remember that Pluto's ears look like a 94.

95. American flag (Americium Am). Cost $95 .

96. Acme's curious curtains (Curium Cm). For a standard 8-foot tall room (96").


97. Rib knit Beret (Berkelium Bk). '97 style. Named for Berkeley, California, where berets have been seen.


98. Cauli-flower (Californium Cf). Remember Berkeley, California, are consecutive and that there is a 98 hidden in the cauliflower. California produces a lot of cauliflower.


99. Einstein's esoteric earrings. (Einsteinium Es). The hidden meaning is that his theory predicts you can only go 99% of the speed of light.


100. Fur mink (Fermium Fm). "Fur" sounds like fermium. It cost 100 thousand dollars and is 100% real fur from mink.


101. Mental M.D. (Mendelevium Md). They work on brains. Mental MD's all took Psychology 101.

102. No Bell (Nobelium No). The red bar divides the picture into two parts, to remember 102.

103. Laurel Wreath. (Lawrencium Lr). It has 103 leaves, and this one was also made with bulrushes.

104. Ruth's perfect Ford. (Rutherfordium Rf). It has 4 wheels and Ford sounds like "four" to remember 104. The Model-T was so "perfect" that is was popular for many years.

105. Hand. (Hahnium Ha). Has 5 fingers, for 5 more than 100
.
Atomic Numbers 1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80
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Using Atomic Number Memory Pegs

Many memory aid systems use memory "pegs," which are pictures used to remind you of numbers.

1. First, memorize the first twenty pictures, especially the association with the numbers. 
2. Then, to memorize twenty objects in order, simply think of a picture using each item with one of these 20 previously memorized pictures, and it is easy to remember the objects in order. 

The more bizarre the picture, the easier it is to remember the object.
For example, using the fire hydrant picture for number one, you could think of the first object as being balanced on top of a hydrant, or being soaked by a hydrant, or perhaps with a hydrant on top of the object.

When I took a memory pegs course, I was struck by how senseless the twenty items were, that we were told to memorize, so I tried to think of a list of numbers that are identified with something in nature. My answer is to use the Atomic Numbers! Every element in nature has a number associated with it called the atomic number. I have thought of a set of pictures for 105 objects, which has these features:

• Each picture reminds you of the element's name.
• Each picture reminds you of the number.
• Each name or description reminds you of the element's chemical symbol.

If there are two letters in the chemical symbol, they will always occur either together in order, or with a different vowel between them so that you cannot confuse them. The two letters in the abbreviation are always found in the name of the element. For example, the icon for magnesium is "mug" which tells you the symbol must be Mg rather than Ma or Mn. Similarly, the abbreviation for Manganese is Mn because the icon is of Autumn Mangos, and the letters mn occur together in the adjective, which otherwise wouldn't be needed.
The first twenty, which are the most important elements and also most common numbers, also have these two features:

• Each picture is an example of the use of that element.
• Each picture is represented by a different color.

The colors were chosen to be useful for drawing atoms in chemical compounds, as well as to remind you of the element.

That is, the most common organic elements are oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen and the have the common colors: white, black, red and blue.
 
The abbreviations are in bold, the colors are in italics, and similar sounds are underlined.
 
When you memorize them, it is important to

• associate the number with the picture, and then as a secondary step, 
• associate the picture with the element. 

Even if you don't care about the periodic table at all, you can still use the 105 pictures to remember up to 105 things in order. That is the whole idea of memory pegs.

Atomic Numbers 1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-105


SOURCE: John P Pratt (Mormon)