On the MCAT, chemistry problems can be difficult. They can leave you feeling frustrated since they range from ostensibly difficult arithmetic problems to formulae that you just cannot seem to recall.
To make it worse, most terms are too technical to remember. But worry no more. That’s what mnemonics are for.
If you are looking for chemistry mnemonics to help you study and prepare for the MCAT, you have come to the right page. Let’s get started!
What Do I Need to Memorize for the MCAT Chemistry Section?
You will be tested on chemistry (General Chemistry – 30%, Organic Chemistry – 15%) in roughly 50% of your MCAT chemistry/physics section and 10% (General Chemistry – 5%, Organic Chemistry – 5%) of your biology/biochemistry section.
In other words, chemistry will be covered by about 29 questions in the chemistry/physics section and 6 in the MCAT bio/biochem section.
The following are the chemistry topics you should devote yourself to as you prepare for the MCAT.
General Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
What are Mnemonics?
A mnemonic is a method for helping us recall a lot of information or specific facts. They could be expressed as a rhyme, song, acronym, picture, word, or entire statement.
When the sequence of events is crucial, mnemonics are very helpful for helping us recall knowledge.
Mnemonic devices can be adjusted to fit a range of subject matters. This technique promotes improved learning retention and aids in recalling difficult words or concepts.Do Mnemonics Work on the MCAT?
As previously established, the MCAT has two sections that cover topics related to both general chemistry and organic chemistry. Thus, it is important that you remember chemical structures and equations.
The good news is that because of the way our brains are wired, each of these details (which are kept in long-term memory) may have already been quickly observed and recorded.
It is simpler to recall larger amounts of information when you use mnemonics, especially when the material is provided in lists like qualities, steps, stages, components, phases, etc.
It can be very helpful to prepare for the chemistry and physics section, as well as the bio and biochem section, which require memorization of a variety of concepts, structures, and words.
How Can I Best Utilize Mnemonics for the MCAT?
You can sharpen your memory by creating mnemonics. Mnemonics can raise your memory retention and test-taking efficiency, both of which will boost your MCAT score.
Here are some pointers for making efficient use of mnemonics.
Mnemonics for the Chemistry Section of the MCAT
There is a lot of memorization required for the MCAT's chemistry section. From chemical terms to chemical structures, needless it is to say, your memory skills will be out to the test.
Mnemonics are a method that has been successful in helping us remember important details and information.
Here are some chemistry (both general and organic) mnemonics to make studying for the exam simpler and easier.
Topics | Sub-topics | Mnemonics |
|---|---|---|
Sequence of orbitals | s p d f g h i k | Sober Physicists Don't Find Giraffes Hiding In Kitchens |
Periodic table – Periods 1-3 | Hydrogen Helium Lithium Beryllium Boron CarbonNitrogen Oxygen Fluorine Neon Na (Sodium) Magnesium Aluminum Silicon Phosphorous Sulfur Chlorine Argon | Hi, Here Little Beatniks Brandish Countless Number Of Flick kNives Nagging Meg Always Sighs, "Please Stop Clowning Around.” |
Periodic table – Period 4 | K (Potassium) Calcium Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Fe (Iron) Cobalt Nickel Cu (Copper) Zinc Gallium Germanium Arsenic Selenium Bromine Krypton | Kind Cats Scare Tiny Vicious Creatures, Maintaining Feline Connections Nice, Cute & Zen. Gallium Germinates As Selene Brings Krypton |
Periodic table – Period 5 | Rubidium Strontium Yttrium Zirconium Niobium Molybdenum Technetium Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium Silver (Ag) Cadmium Indium Tin (Sn) Antimony (Sb) Tellurium Iodine Xenon | Ruby, Sir Yells"Zircon Nebulas!". Most Technicians Rule Rhodes and Paddle Against Cadence". India Sent Sebastian to Tell "Io Xe.” |
Noble gases | Helium Neon Argon Krypton Xenon Radon | He Needs A Kite, Xylophone and a Radio |
First transition metals | Scandium Titanium Vanadium Chromium Manganese Iron (Fe) Cobalt Nickel Copper (Cu) Zinc | Scary Tiny Vicious Creatures are Mean; Felix Comes with Nilo to Club Zen |
Second transition metals | Yttrium ZirconiumNiobium Molybdenum Technetium Ruthenium Rhodium Palladium Silver (Ag) Cadmium | Yes S(Z)irNob, Most Technicians Rub Rhod's Pale Silver Cadillac |
Third transition metals | Lanthanum Hafnium Tantalum Tungsten (W) Rhenium Osmium Iridium Platinum Gold (Au) Mercury (Hg) | Late Harry Took Walk Reached Office In Pajamas After an Hour |
Actinides | Actinium Thorium Protactinium Uranium Neptunium Plutonium Americium Curium Berkelium Californium Einsteinium Fermium Mendelevium Nobelium Lawrencium | Ace Thor Protects Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Amy Cured Berkeley, California. Einstein and Fermi Made Noble Laws. |
Lanthanides | Lanthanum Cerium Praseodymium Neodymium Promethium Samarium Europium Gadolinium Terbium Dysprosium Holmium Erbium Thulium Ytterbium Lutetium | Lately Central Park Needed Primroses. Small Entire Golden Tassels Dyeing the Hollow Earth, Tempting Your Love |
Alkali metals | Lithium Sodium (Na) Potassium (K) Rubidium Cesium Francium | Little Naughty Kids Ruin Bill’s Convenient Store Forever |
Alkaline earth metals | Beryllium Magnesium Calcium Strontium Barium Radium | Bearded Muggers Came Straight Back Rapidly. |
Chalcogens | Oxygen Sulfur Selenium Tellurium Polonium Livermorium | Old Susan Sells Telephones, Polaroids, and Lamps. |
Halogens | Fluorine Chlorine Bromine Iodine Astatine Tennessine | Funny Clyde Brings Ink At Tennis. |
Properties of elements according to: Abundance of elements on the crust of the earth | Oxygen(O) > Silicon(Si) > Aluminum(Al) > Iron(Fe) > Calcium(Ca) > Sodium (Na) > Potassium(K) > Magnesium (Mg) *The remainder just contributes 1%. | Only Skillful Athletes In College Sneak Past Midnight |
Activity series of metals | Potassium > Sodium > Calcium > Magnesium > Aluminum> (Carbon)* > Zinc > Chromium > Iron> Tin > Lead > (Hydrogen)* > Copper > Mercury > Silver > Gold > Platinum *Note: Hydrogen and Carbon are non-metals used as a baseline. | Please Stop Calling Me A Carless Zebra Crab Instead Try Learning How Copper Miners Save Gold Pit |
Diatomic molecules | Hydrogen Nitrogen OxygenFluorine Chlorine Bromine Iodine | Horses Need OatsFor Clear Brown Eyes (Is) |
Prefixes for naming carbon chains | 1 Meth 2 Eth 3 Prop 4 But | Monkeys Eat Peeled Bananas |
Aromatic substituent prefixes | Ortho Meta Para | Oh My Papa |
Carboxylic acids | Formic Acetic Propionic Butyric Valeric Caproic | Flowers Are Perfect, Beautiful, Visual, and Cute. |
Take note that the purpose of these chemistry mnemonics is to aid you in memorizing important ideas for the test. You can always be more creative and modify them to suit your learning style.
Additional FAQs – Mnemonics for the Chemistry Section of the MCAT
How Many Questions About Chemistry are There in the MCAT?
Furthermore, chemistry topics also make up 10% of the bio and biochem section, making it 6 (out of 59) questions.
Am I Allowed to Use a Periodic Table in the MCAT Chemistry?
You may not need to memorize the atomic number and order of elements for the MCAT, but your background and knowledge about the compositions and properties of the elements are essentially required.
You also need to have a deeper understanding of the reactions between chemicals and substances.
Can I Use a Calculator in the MCAT Chemistry?
You need to practice performing manual math computations. Fortunately, there aren’t a lot of computations for you to do.
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