Ways to Memorize Solubility Rules

Acronyms

• An acronym is a recall-tool where you take the first letter of each word in a group to form an abbreviation. For example, according to solubility rules, all sulfates are soluble, except those of barium, strontium, calcium, silver, lead and mercury. The latter of these three are only slightly soluble. If you take the first letter of each of these elements you are left with BSC and SLM. Remembering these acronyms will give you a mental clue to the solubility of these elements.

Sentences

• Some acronyms are easy to remember, like NFL for the National Football League, but if you are struggling, you could take the first letter of each word to make an easy-to-remember sentence. With the above example, you might try this one: Bad Sons Cannot Sit Like Men, where the first letter of each word refers to one of the elements.

Rhymes or Songs

• Rhyme can help you remember information in the same way that it is easier to remember song lyrics than a long passage of text. Elements may not be the most interesting subject matter, but when you consider that the letters of the alphabet are sung by children to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, you quickly realize that anything can become a song.

Method of Loci

• In ancient times, storytellers used to use the Method of Loci to remember the information they wished to share. To do this, visualize a walk you take every day. This could be to school, or to the shop, or a walk to the bus stop. It must be a walk you know very well. Now, imagine yourself taking this walk and picture the various landmarks you usually pass. Finally, associate each of these landmarks with the thing you need to remember. As an example, take this rule: ̶0;Sulfides are insoluble except for calcium, barium, strontium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and ammonium.̶1; If you walk past a dentist, this could trigger a memory for calcium. If you walk past a bar, this could trigger a memory for barium and so on.

Repetition

• Finally, repetition can help you remember. It is not the most fun memory game, but standing in your room and endlessly repeating each solubility rule will eventually help. Perhaps take this rule: ̶0;All binary compounds of the halogens (other than F) with metals are soluble, except those of Ag, Hg(I), and Pb. Pb halides are soluble in hot water.̶1; To learn this, start by repeating ̶0;All binary compounds of the halogens with metals are soluble̶1; until you remember it. Then add the ̶0;other than F̶1; section and so on.