The 5 Best Periodic Table Of Elements Song Lyrics: From Tom Lehrer's Classic To The 118-Element Updates

The "Periodic Table of Elements Song" is one of the most enduring and effective educational tools in modern science, a catchy earworm that has helped generations of students memorize the building blocks of the universe. As of December 17, 2025, the song's legacy is split between the brilliant original and the necessity of its modern updates, which now incorporate all 118 known elements, reflecting the dynamic nature of chemistry itself.

The original composition, a masterpiece of musical humor and mathematics, was penned by the legendary Tom Lehrer. However, with the discovery and official naming of new elements like Nihonium, Moscovium, Tennessine, and Oganesson, the classic 1959 version has become a historical artifact, prompting a wave of creative and essential updates from science educators and content creators worldwide.

Tom Lehrer: The Original Composer and His Enduring Legacy

The foundation of the entire "Periodic Table Song" phenomenon rests squarely on the shoulders of Thomas Andrew Lehrer. Born in 1928, Lehrer was an American singer-songwriter, satirist, pianist, and mathematician, whose genius lay in combining complex intellectual topics with witty, often dark, humor set to music. His work, which peaked in the 1950s and 60s, remains highly influential.

• The Chilling True Story 5 Key Facts About Richard Evonitz The Serial Killer Who Kidnapped Kara Robinson Chamberlain Xpjje

• Full Name: Thomas Andrew Lehrer
• Born: April 9, 1928 (New York City, USA)
• Occupation: Singer-songwriter, musical satirist, pianist, mathematician, lecturer
• Most Famous Song: "The Elements" (1959)
• Musical Style: Humorous, satirical, often employing complex rhyme schemes and rapid-fire delivery.
• Academic Background: Harvard University (B.A. in Mathematics, M.A. in Mathematics)
• Inspiration for "The Elements": The tune is a parody of "I Am The Very Model Of A Modern Major-General" from Gilbert and Sullivan's 1879 comic opera, *The Pirates of Penzance*.
• Status: Lehrer passed away in 2022, but his work continues to be celebrated and adapted.

Lehrer's "The Elements" was first performed in 1959. It managed to list 102 elements, from Hydrogen to Nobelium, which was the final element known at the time of the song's composition. The song’s rapid-fire delivery and clever use of the existing musical structure made it an instant classic for science enthusiasts.

The Evolution: Why the Classic Lyrics Needed an Update

For decades, Lehrer's song was the gold standard, but the periodic table is a living document. The discovery and synthesis of new, heavy, and highly unstable elements in laboratories around the world meant that "The Elements" was quickly becoming scientifically incomplete.

The original song stopped at Element 102, Nobelium (No). Since then, sixteen more elements have been officially named and added to the table, bringing the total count in the standard periodic table to 118.

• The Untouchable Privacy 7 Secrets Of Rachel Mcadams And Jamie Lindens Life Beyond The Red Carpet E820e

Key New Elements Missing from the Original Song (Elements 103-118):

The elements that necessitated the modern updates are primarily the synthetic, superheavy elements of the seventh period (row) of the periodic table. These include:

• Lawrencium (Lr, 103)
• Rutherfordium (Rf, 104)
• Dubnium (Db, 105)
• Seaborgium (Sg, 106)
• Bohrium (Bh, 107)
• Hassium (Hs, 108)
• Meitnerium (Mt, 109)
• Darmstadtium (Ds, 110)
• Roentgenium (Rg, 111)
• Copernicium (Cn, 112)
• Nihonium (Nh, 113)
• Flerovium (Fl, 114)
• Moscovium (Mc, 115)
• Livermorium (Lv, 116)
• Tennessine (Ts, 117)
• Oganesson (Og, 118)

The challenge for modern songwriters was to seamlessly integrate these sixteen new element names into the existing, highly structured meter and rhyme scheme of the Gilbert and Sullivan tune. This required a deep understanding of both chemistry and musical parody.

The 5 Best Modern Periodic Table Song Versions

While countless versions of the song exist on platforms like YouTube, a few have risen to prominence due to their accuracy, popularity, and clever lyrical additions. These are the versions students and teachers turn to for the most current information, often labeled as "2024" or "updated to 118 elements."

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

1. The AsapSCIENCE "New Periodic Table Song"

The Canadian YouTube channel AsapSCIENCE, run by Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown, produced one of the most popular and widely recognized modern updates. Their version, often called "The New Periodic Table Song," is not a direct parody of Tom Lehrer but a completely new, original composition set to a fast-paced, contemporary beat.

• Key Feature: Lists all 118 elements in order, making it an excellent sequential memorization tool.
• Style: Fast-paced, modern pop/rock, highly visual.
• Lyrical Focus: Focuses on the atomic number and sequential order, rather than just rhyming the names.

2. The Tom Lehrer Parody (Updated to 118)

Many creators have taken on the challenge of writing the "missing verse" to complete Lehrer's original song, keeping the tune of "Modern Major-General." These versions are the truest homage to the original, often adding the final 16 elements in a single, breathless, rhyming verse.

One common lyrical addition to complete the list, following Nobelium (No, 102), often begins with a line like:

"Lawrencium, Rutherfordium, Dubnium, Seaborgium, Bohrium, Hassium, Meitnerium, Darmstadtium, Roentgenium, Copernicium, Nihonium, Flerovium, Moscovium, Livermorium, Tennessine, Oganesson! That’s all of them!"

3. "Elemental Flow" (2024 Versions)

Several 2024 and 2025 versions, often found on YouTube, use the title "Elemental Flow" or similar, indicating a focus on the sequential order of the elements. These are often rap or hip-hop inspired, using rhythm and flow to help with memorization.

4. The "Periodic Table Song" by They Might Be Giants

While not a full 118-element list, the band They Might Be Giants (TMBG) contributed to the genre with their song "The Elements," which appeared on their 2009 children's album *Here Comes Science*. TMBG's version focuses more on the properties of various elements and their groups, offering a different, conceptual approach to learning the table.

5. The Simplified/Group-Based Rhymes

Some educational songs, like the one often used in primary schools, focus less on reciting all 118 elements and more on the structure of the periodic table itself. These versions often rhyme about the groups and periods, using lines like: "Noble gas is stable. Halogens and Alkali react aggressively."

Topical Authority and LSI Entities: The Science Behind the Song

The enduring popularity of these songs highlights a critical link between music, memory, and science education. The use of a mnemonic device—a catchy tune—allows the brain to encode complex information (the names of the elements) more effectively.

The songs naturally introduce several key scientific entities and concepts:

• Periodic Law: The principle that the properties of the elements recur periodically when arranged by atomic number.
• Atomic Number (Z): The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom, which determines the element's identity and is the basis for the song's order.
• Lanthanides and Actinides: The two separate rows at the bottom of the table, often mentioned as a distinct section in the lyrics.
• Noble Gases: The stable elements of Group 18 (e.g., Neon, Argon, Xenon), highlighted for their non-reactivity.
• Alkali Metals and Halogens: Mentioned for their high reactivity, contrasting with the Noble Gases.
• Synthetic Elements: The superheavy elements (103-118) that are created in particle accelerators and only exist for fractions of a second.

Whether you prefer the witty, historical charm of Tom Lehrer's original or the comprehensive, modern flow of the 118-element versions, the "Periodic Table Song" remains an essential, fun, and continually updated part of the global science curriculum.