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How to Remember Diatomic Elements: A Proven Mnemonic

how to remember diatomic elements feature imageThere are seven diatomic elements and they are very easy to memorize.

You just need a proper mnemonic strategy to get the job done.Sure, you can use a weak acronym like “Have no fear of ice cold bears,” but

let me ask you this:

How does that acronym help you memorize the name and number of each and every element?

Answer:

It doesn’t.

We can do better.

And when we do, you can sit for exams with great confidence.

You can be a better professional in your career.

And you can use the superior memory techniques that get all the information you need into memory for many other aspects of your learning life.

Ready to learn the best diatomic elements mnemonic available? 

Great! Let’s dig in!

How to Remember The Diatomic Elements in 3 Steps

The technique I’m going to teach you has been used for thousands of years.

People have used it to memorize and recite entire books backwards and forwards. 

You can use it to learn languages much faster, and it will help you never forget a name again.

And since you’re dealing with just seven elements, this simple task won’t take long at all.

The technique involves a Memory Palace.

Let’s look at what it is and how it works step-by-step.

Note: If you’re really keen, you can use the same technique to memorize the entire Periodic Table of the Elements.

Step One: Create A Seven Station Memory Palace

A Memory Palace is simply a mental recreation of a home, office or other familiar building.

weak diatomic molecules mnemonic example

Although you can memorize all of these molecules according to location by noticing that everything after hydrogen makes a “seven” shape on the right side of the Periodic Table, we can do better.

We just need to pick a room and assign seven distinct spots in it.

Let’s say we have a bedroom that looks like this:

memory palace example for how to remember diatomic elements

Obviously, the room you use will look different than this. The point is to identify a few locations that make sense to you.

Then you’re going to pair the seven diatomic elements to each of the spots you’ve identified in the room.

Step Two: Use Pop Culture To Create Highly Memorable Associations

The seven diatomic elements are:

  • Hydrogen
  • Nitrogen
  • Fluorine
  • Oxygen
  • Iodine
  • Chlorine
  • Bromine

Now, you can distribute the words of a mnemonic throughout a Memory Palace. But I predict you’ll be much better served by using the story and linking method.

the story and linking method

Imagine, for example, that this is happening in your bedroom:

A hydroplane operated by Batman is shooting roses at an ox. It goes into a diner only to find that it’s been replaced by a swimming pool filled with turtles from Super Mario Brothers.

This story is so much easier to remember than the list elements. But if you want to know how to remember diatomic molecules, this is by far the easiest way.

What I’ve done is encoded them in a story that uses as many pop culture references as possible.

The hydroplane reminds me of hydrone, and since Batman is the “Dark Knight,” nitrogen instantly comes to mind. 

Can you guess why I’ve chosen the other examples? Give it a try!

Obviously, you’ll want to work with examples that make sense to you. If you don’t know who the Mario Brothers are, think of some other brothers for Bromine. Personalize is the key to forming effective active recall.

Step Three: Add Numbers

If you want to also know the atomic numbers, learn to use the Major System and the Pegword Method.

This works by giving you an image for each and every number.

For example, you can add a swan’s wings to help you remember H2 because swans look a lot like 2.

If you want to know the number of the element itself on the Periodic Table of the Elements, please consider developing a PAO System. This will give you an image for every 2-digit number from 00-99.

I suggest that you secure the diatomic element in the Memory Palace first, then add the numbers you need after.

Add More Memory Skills

Now that you have a fun and easy alternative to using acronyms, why not continue piling on more memory skills?

For example, you can use similar approach to help yourself learn all about:

The trick is to really understand the Memory Palace technique. And for that, I have a FREE Memory Improvement Kit I’d love you to have:

Magnetic Memory Method Free Memory Improvement Course

It will help you rapidly scale this technique so you can learn at least 3x faster.

So what do you say?

Are you ready to master the diatomic elements?

I know that you can and wish you great success!

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ABOUT ANTHONY METIVIER


Anthony Metivier is the founder of the Magnetic Memory Method, a systematic, 21st century approach to memorizing foreign language vocabulary, names, music, poetry and more in ways that are easy, elegant, effective and fun.

Dr. Metivier holds a Ph.D. in Humanities from York University and has been featured in Forbes, Viva Magazine, Fluent in 3 Months, Daily Stoic, Learning How to Learn and he has delivered one of the most popular TEDx Talks on memory improvement.

His most popular books include, The Victorious Mind and… Read More

Anthony Metivier taught as a professor at:

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