As with mathematical formulae, the approach used for chemistry notations employs the link system. The motivation should be to break down the structure into subcomponents whose images are established and can therefore be easily memorised. The procedure is as follows:
1. Ensure each symbol has a unique picture- write down a list to ensure no repetition.
2. Convert the name of the compound into an image.
3. Convert each component of the compound into an image-use names of sub-compounds if you are familiar with them (in the example below we do so for Amine).
4. Memorise from left to right.
5. Memorise from the top downwards.
6. For circular portions work clockwise.
The table below represents the unique identifiers we will be using for this example:
The reader should note that we have used the name of NH2 to represents its image rather than memorise each element separately.
This point was alluded to in the mathematical formulae and is again re-iterated here:
a. Previous knowledge of the topic should be used to make the conversion of data into images simpler- for example any group of items that are already known under a grouping name should be memorised as a group rather
than the individual components (e.g. NH2 is amine or in the mathematical example it was the normal density function that was known in the memorisation of the cumulative density function).
b. Structural knowledge of the topic should be used to avoid memorising data that can be reasoned- in the chemistry example below, we do not memorise single bonds thus assuming that unless an image of a double bond occurs we should assume a single bond is present. Further such reductions in data actually memorised are possible the more the practitioner is familiar with the general rules of the topic.
We proceed with the example of Melamine:
Melamine sounds a bit like “melon mean”- which can be visualised as a mean looking melon. Continue by linking a mean looking melon to a preacher (Amine => Amen=> Preacher), perhaps this mean looking melon is preaching in front of a congregation, proceed by linking the preacher to a two headed James Bond- perhaps a gigantic two headed James Bond is sitting with the congregation nodding his head at the preacher’s sermon, continue by linking a hen to the two headed James bond- perhaps the hen is the arch villain and is standing over the two headed James Bond boasting about the success of his evil scheme, proceed by linking a hen to a preacher- perhaps a hen is preaching to the other hens in the henhouse, again link the preacher to a double headed James Bond- perhaps this time the congregation consists of billions of such double headed James Bonds, proceed by linking James Bond to the hen- perhaps there is a double headed hen that is walking around an expensive dinner party with a tuxedo, then proceed to connecting a preacher and a hen- maybe a preacher outside on the farm is picking grains with his nose, proceed to linking the preacher to the double headed James bond- perhaps the
double headed James Bond is walking around with preacher robes, finally proceed by linking the double headed James Bond to the Hen- perhaps the double headed James bond is picking grains with his noses.
The example above was deliberately used to illustrate a subtle point:
the above approach works but there are plenty of repeated connections (e.g Hen connecting to Bond 3 times) that test the limits of the link system. In such situations there are two possible approaches:
a . Use the loci or peg system instead- repetitions in these systems cannot be confused.
b . Use ‘bundling’, as illustrated in the mathematical formulae section above- the aim is to bundle items in such a way to ensure that there are few repeated connections.
Method (b) is recommended; however, if the user would like to dedicate a large proportion of his loci system for his studies he may do so- the only disadvantage is that with formulae the loci system can get used up very quickly and new locations will have to be added (assuming a large amount of formulae and long term memory intentions).
With bundling, the above example is transformed to:
A preacher=> double headed hen with a tuxedo=>double headed preacher with a tuxedo=> hen preacher=> double headed hen with a tuxedo
An alternative bundling approach would be to bundle the circular portion into one image- for example we could think of a “hen ball”-a hen being used ball”-as ball”-a footbball”-all (soccer bball”-all) for exball”-ample. If this approach is taken, any future circular structures should be treated similarly using a standard convention- the example above used the letter on the circumference to determine the type of ball it was.
Note that doing this would require some basic knowledge of the topic to allow the types of bonds to be recalled.
This approach would lead to one simple picture to represent the entire structure- picture three preachers standing in a triangle formation kicking a gigantic hen ball around in an extremely vicious manner- see the feathers flying around and the pain felt by the hen after every kick.
after every kick.
As is apparent, using bundling means that no connection between two images is the same- this reduces the likelihood of confusion at the cost of more complex imagery required.
For those that would like to use the loci system, it is advisable to be organised and create a portion of the loci that is dedicated for the subject; for example, the practitioner may choose to use a palace that he visited in order to memorise chemical structures- each room in the palace would then correspond to one structure. It is easy to appreciate that, for a serious study of the subject, one would require a very large palace with lots of rooms. Imaginary palaces or towns may work well here but, as discussed in earlier sections, these require building and familiarity before they can be used efficiently.