Talk:Arrow pushing

First point, could the scope of this article be broader, i.e. chemical mechanism notation in general? I had a quick look and did not find an article about it. We throw arrows around on various chemistry relates pages but is it ever actually explained in one place anywhere. (perhaps I’m wrong?)

Could this topic be broadened to include reaction arrows (irreversible reactions, equilibrium arrows, failed reactions) as well as curly arrows (double and single headed).

Also could we also explain what the other symbols we use mean e.g. lone pairs, radical electrons, also what + and – symbols notate, perhaps even common symbols for orbitals. Also maybe how we notate single, double, triple bonds and perhaps aromatic rings?

There should also be an explanation of how to use these curly arrows correctly. I know in real life we can be a bit slap-dash about where a double headed arrow curly starts and finishes ... for example, if forming a bond between A: and B the arrow really should start at “:” and finish between the A and B (not touch B).

Second point, I'm sure that the editors that made the edits on this page have worked hard on it, but I think a lot of it has been (better?) covered in other articles - I don't think SN2 reactions should only be discussed in context of what the lone pairs are and where they are going. Anyone needing to know more can follow a wiki-link.

- Quantockgoblin (talk)

You raise some excellent points. First, you ask about chemical mechanism notation in general. The use of arrow pushing techniques is the root of organic chemistry mechanistic descriptions. This article can and will be expanded to include additional mechanistic types such as free-radical reactions and electrocyclic/pericyclic reactions.

Regarding broadening this article to include other types of arrows used in chemistry, this may confuse the concept of arrow pushing. Instead, I would support your suggestion regarding a page dedicated to the broad array of symbols and arrows used in chemistry. Subsequently, there could be a link to the "Arrow Pushing" article from the description of curved arrows.

Regarding how to use these arrows correctly, there are two conflicting modes of thought. One mode is that since electrons form the bonds between atoms, arrows should point to the space between atoms. The other mode of thought directs the arrows to the center at which a reaction or mechanistic reaction component takes place. Both modes are taught.

Finally, regarding your second point, this article is not designed to explain reactions in depth. Rather, it is intended to teach the basic concepts of arrow pushing as related to fundamental mechanistic subtypes. Wikipedia does have very good articles focused on some of these types (such as SN2). However, this article is the first to focus exclusively on how to use arrow pushing as a general tool to describe organic chemistry mechanisms. As you suggest, more details about these reaction subtypes are available through the embedded links. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Jupiterccnetcom (talk • contribs) 23:43, 1 November 2009 (UTC)

single vs double barbed arrow
The text uses the terminology "single-barbed" and "double-barbed" arrow. I don't understand the distinction. There really should be an image of each kind of arrow next to these statements. CrocodilesAreForWimps (talk) 00:59, 21 June 2012 (UTC)
 * Shanata (talk) 20:27, 12 March 2015 (UTC)

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What about bond formation?
This article is very nice! But even within the article itself, incidentally, it shows arrow-pushing notation used for bond formation and for some kind of bond-to-bond transfer! It would be wonderful if it also explained what those mean. --RProgrammer (talk) 15:51, 3 April 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education assignment: Honors Organic Chemistry I
— Assignment last updated by Ajtttt (talk) 01:46, 28 September 2022 (UTC)