The 'Yields' or 'Produces' Symbol
The arrow (→) in a chemical equation is read as 'yields,' 'produces,' or 'forms.' It serves as a divider, separating the starting materials, called reactants, on the left side from the resulting substances, called products, on the right side. It signifies the direction and transformation of a chemical reaction.
Section 2: Identifying Reactants and Products
Everything to the left of the arrow is a reactant—the ingredients that go into the reaction. Everything to the right of the arrow is a product—the new substance(s) created by the reaction. The arrow indicates that the reactants are being chemically changed into the products.
Section 3: A Practical Example
Consider the balanced equation for the formation of water: 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O. In this equation, hydrogen gas (H₂) and oxygen gas (O₂) are the reactants. The arrow indicates that they react to 'yield' or 'produce' the product, which is water (H₂O).
Section 4: Different Types of Reaction Arrows
While a single arrow (→) indicates a reaction that proceeds in one direction, you might also see a double arrow (⇌). This double arrow signifies a reversible reaction, where the products can also react to re-form the original reactants, eventually reaching a state of dynamic equilibrium.