Memorizing Shape Names

[Charlene D 3H]

Hi I'm wondering if any of y'all have helpful mneumonics or memory tricks for remembering the name of a molecule and its corresponding shape.
Thank you, I appreciate it! (:

[Farah Abumeri 3F]

I think what's really helpful is just doing the homework and sapling problems. The more practice you do, the more easily the names and bond angles will come to you. Also, for even more practice, attend the workshops/step-up sessions!

[Sydney Lam_2I]

Hi!

Most of the time how I memorize the names and shape is when I draw it out. Drawing it out definitely helps me identify certain ones like trigonal planar or tetrahedral. Also, look at the greek prefixes because they give a hint about what it should look like.

[StephanieGrigorian2J]

I would think of it by making associations with the actual name and the shape. For example, trigonal has the prefix "tri-" which means three, and there are 3 atoms around the central atom for a trigonal shape. Tetrahedral has the prefix "tetra-" which means four, and there are 4 atoms surrounding the central atom for a tetrahedral shape.

[Keon Amirazodi 3H]

I would just keep doing a quizlet set over and over until I understand them all. Don't really know a neumoncic.

[Shalyn Kelly 3H]

As stated above, you can try "dissecting" the shape names to better understand them. I learn best from practice, so looking at different random shapes and naming them might help too.

[Megan Lu 3D]

Hi! Personally, I don’t have any specific mnemonics to remember the names of the different shapes (other than looking at the prefixes), but I usually memorize them simply by drawing them all out on a blank sheet of paper without my notes. Hope this helps!

[DominicMalilay 1F]

Quizlet is a life saver!

[Jared Limqueco 3E]

For memorizing these shapes, just grind quizlet. Or just make some educated guess on a mc question.

[Joshua Swift]

I feel like specifically understanding why certain shapes are named the way they are helps you memorize them more easily. Shapes like linear, bent, trigonal planar, and trigonal pyramidal all describe the shape given, so try not to get worked up by all the new terms just try to figure out why they have those names.

[Mrudula Akkinepally]

I think doing the homework will definitely help, but I personally find flash cards to be the best way to do it. Quizlet is perfectly fine, but a lot of people rave about this app called aanki ( don’t quote me on the spelling lol) if you want to try it out!

[David Facio 3C]

Quizlet is definitely helpful, but I'm an old soul and I prefer flash cards. This way you can study anywhere without having to rely on a charged phone or laptop.

Unfortunately I don't think this is something that acronyms or mneumonics will help with.

I would definitely just have the structural drawing on one side and the facts/name on the other side.

The names of the structures are somewhat intuitive.
Trigonal Planar comes easily to me since I immediately think of a flat (planar) three (tri) sided object.
Tetrahedral, just remember FOUR!
Trigonal Bi-Pyramidal, think of three bonds on one plane, and two bonds (one coming towards you and one going away)
You just gotta take them one by one and come up with your own way of memorizing them, INCLUDING ANGLE VALUES!

I also like Megan's response, wherein she stated that she draws them out on a blank sheet of paper from memory without notes.
If you can explain the structures and angles in full detail, to someone else without your notes, YOU'RE GOLDEN!

Hope this helps! :)

[Kyle Dizon 3A]

Personally, the only way that it has been helping me is to hop on quizlet and memorize from there.