How To Memorize The First 20 Elements For CBSE Class 10

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First 20 Elements of the Periodic Table - Easy Mnemonics for Class 10

Understanding the First 20 Elements 

In CBSE Class 10 Chemistry, the first 20 elements of the periodic table are not just a memory topic. They are the base for understanding chemical reactions, bonding, acids, bases, metals, non-metals, and even real-life applications like rusting, digestion, and electricity.

If you can quickly recall the name, symbol, and atomic number of these elements, half of your chemistry fear automatically reduces.

So in this blog, we’ll learn:

• What the first 20 elements are
• How to memorize them without cramming
• How to connect them to real life
• How to avoid common student mistakes

Let’s go step by step,

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First, Know What You’re Memorizing

Many students try to memorize blindly. That’s the first mistake.

You are memorizing three things for each element:

• Atomic number
• Name
• Symbol

Let’s put everything clearly in one place.

First 20 Elements - Complete Overview

Atomic Number	Element	Symbol
1	Hydrogen	H
2	Helium	He
3	Lithium	Li
4	Beryllium	Be
5	Boron	B
6	Carbon	C
7	Nitrogen	N
8	Oxygen	O
9	Fluorine	F
10	Neon	Ne
11	Sodium	Na
12	Magnesium	Mg
13	Aluminium	Al
14	Silicon	Si
15	Phosphorus	P
16	Sulphur	S
17	Chlorine	Cl
18	Argon	Ar
19	Potassium	K
20	Calcium	Ca

Download free notes and practice questions from our Resource Page to practice daily

Class 10 - Free Practice Resources

Class 11 - Free Practice Resources

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Step 1: Use a Funny Mnemonic Trick (Because Your Brain Loves Stories)

Mnemonics work because they connect abstract data to familiar patterns.

Let’s break the first 20 into smaller groups:

➤ Elements 1–10 Mnemonics:
"Hi He Likes Beer But Could Not Offer Full Nine"

• Hi = Hydrogen (1)
• He = Helium (2)
• Likes = Lithium (3)
• Beer = Beryllium (4)
• But = Boron (5)
• Could = Carbon (6)
• Not = Nitrogen (7)
• Offer = Oxygen (8)
• Full = Fluorine (9)
• Nine = Neon (10)

➤Elements 11–20 Mnemonics:
"Naughty Maggie Always Sings Perfect Songs Clearly Around Kind Cats"

• Naughty = Sodium (11)
• Maggie = Magnesium (12)
• Always = Aluminium (13)
• Sings = Silicon (14)
• Perfect = Phosphorus (15)
• Songs = Sulphur (16)
• Clearly = Chlorine (17)
• Around = Argon (18)
• Kind = Potassium (19)
• Cats = Calcium (20)

Make it fun. Recite this like a rhyme or even record yourself saying it aloud. Repetition is key.

Read: Excel at Science Read: Successful Learning

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Step 2: Use Flashcards

Make flashcards with:

• Front: Symbol (e.g. Na)
• Back: Element name and atomic number (e.g. Sodium – 11)

Apps like Anki or Quizlet work great. Or use physical index cards. Shuffle them. Test yourself daily. Within a week, you'll see improvement.

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Step 3: Real-Life Connection (Memory That Stays)

Now let’s connect elements to things you already know.

Element	Where You See It
Hydrogen	Fuel cells, water
Oxygen	Breathing, combustion
Carbon	Fuels, living organisms
Sodium	Table salt (NaCl)
Calcium	Milk, bones
Neon	Advertising signboards
Chlorine	Water purification
Aluminium	Utensils, foil
Silicon	Computer chips
Potassium	Bananas, fertilizers

When exams ask:
You instantly recall Chlorine (17).

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Step 4: Visual Grouping - Understand, Don’t Memorize

Grouping elements helps long-term retention.

Classification of First 20 Elements

Group	Elements
Alkali Metals	Lithium (3), Sodium (11), Potassium (19)
Alkaline Earth Metals	Beryllium (4), Magnesium (12), Calcium (20)
Noble Gases	Helium (2), Neon (10), Argon (18)
Non-metals	H, C, N, O, F, P, S, Cl
Metalloids	Boron, Silicon
Metals	Al, Ca

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Step 5: Symbols - Why Some Look “Wrong”

Students often panic:
“Why Sodium is Na and Potassium is K?”

Let’s clear it.

Tricky Symbols Explained

Element	Symbol	Reason
Sodium	Na	Latin name: Natrium
Potassium	K	Latin name: Kalium
Iron*	Fe	Latin: Ferrum (future topic)

Symbols come from Latin names, not English spelling

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Common Student Mistakes

Problem

Students mix:

• Sodium (Na) with Nitrogen (N)
• Calcium (Ca) with Carbon (C)

Agitate

In exams, this causes:

• Wrong chemical equations
• Loss of marks in MCQs
• Confusion in balancing reactions

Solution

• Always say symbol + name together
• Practice writing, not just reading

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Step 6: Self-Testing Routine (10-Minute Plan)

Daily routine:

• Write elements 1-10 from memory
• Check mistakes
• Repeat for 11-20

Weekly:

• Write all 20 in sequence
• Write symbols randomly

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Download free notes and practice questions from our Resource Page to practice daily.

Download Resources

Common Confusion vs Correct Understanding

Mistakes vs Correct Thinking

Student Confusion	Correct Understanding
Symbols are random	Symbols have historical meaning
Need to mug up	Patterns make it easier
Forget after exam	Regular recall builds memory
Chemistry is tough	Basics make it simple

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Why This Topic Matters Beyond Exams

Knowing first 20 elements helps in:

• Chemical reactions
• Acids, bases, and salts
• Metals and non-metals
• Environmental chemistry
• Competitive exams later

It’s not a “small chapter”.
It’s a foundation chapter.

Have doubts? Fill our Inquiry Form for free guidance.

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CASE STUDY: A Class 10 Toppers’ Trick

Riya, a CBSE Class 10 student who scored 99 in science, shared her method:

“I wrote the mnemonic on sticky notes and stuck them to my bathroom mirror. Each morning, I recited the line. By the end of the week, I knew the first 20 elements by heart. I used flashcards and made a silly game out of testing my brother too.”

Mastering the Periodic Table Is Possible - With the Right Tools

You don’t need to memorize the whole periodic table at once. Start with the first 20 elements. Use stories, visuals, rhymes, and flashcards. Test yourself. Have fun with it.

Because once you know these 20 elements inside out, everything else in chemistry becomes easier—bonding, reactions, equations.

So don’t stress. Stick to the plan. And remember:

Hi He Likes Beer But Could Not Offer Full Nine Sodas... Naughty Maggie Always Sings Perfect Songs Clearly Around Kind Cats!

If you want to practice this topic, you can take a quiz in Curious Corner for better practice.