---
title: Inductive arrows and partial charges
url: https://www.moldraw.com/docs/teaching/how-to-draw-inductive-effect-arrows-and-partial-charges/
section: Teaching and learning
updated: 2026-10-20
publisher: LabCanvas
---

# Inductive arrows and partial charges

> Open the bond menu in the left rail and pick Inductive. Click a single bond to put an arrow on it that points at the atom that pulls harder. For partial charges, open the charge menu, pick δ+ or δ− and click an atom. Click again for δδ+ and δδδ+.

Inductive arrows and partial charges show bond polarity. The **Inductive** tool puts an arrowhead on a σ bond. The **δ+** and **δ−** tools put partial charge labels on atoms. Both are display only. They do not change the formula, the charge or the SMILES.

## Inductive arrows

1. Open the bond menu in the left tool rail. Its name is **Bond type**.
2. Under **Query / stereo**, pick **Inductive**.
3. Click a bond. The arrow points at the atom that pulls the electrons harder.
4. Click the same bond again to reverse the arrow.
5. Click a third time to remove it.

You can also draw new bonds with the tool. Click an atom to add a bond with an arrow, or drag from atom to atom. You can pick the tool from the command palette too: press `Ctrl+K` and type **Inductive**.

### Which way the arrow points

MolDraw compares the Pauling electronegativity of the two atoms. On C-Cl the arrow points at Cl. On a bond between two atoms of the same element, like C-C, it looks at the neighbours. The carbon that carries Cl, O or another electronegative group pulls harder. If both sides pull the same, the second click removes the arrow.

When you draw a new inductive bond, arrows on nearby C-C bonds can turn around. MolDraw checks them again because the new bond changes the balance. Draw a chain like Cl-C-C-C with the tool, and the arrows point toward Cl.

### Rules

- Inductive arrows sit only on single bonds. Clicking a double bond with the tool makes it a single bond with an arrow.
- To clear an arrow, click the bond until the arrow goes, or click it with the **Single** bond tool.

## Partial charges: δ+ and δ−

> **Note:** The δ tools live in the charge menu of the left rail, **Charge and symbol tools**, in the **Charge** group.

1. Open the charge menu and pick **δ+** or **δ−**.
2. Click an atom. It shows δ+ or δ−.
3. Click it again for δδ+, then δδδ+. The next click clears it.
4. To place the label, press on the atom and drag. The label follows the pointer.

Use δδ+ and δδδ+ to show the effect fading along a chain. A δ+ click on an atom with δ− replaces it with δ+.

Partial charges are separate from formal charges. The plus and minus tools set real charges. See [Lone pairs, radicals and charges](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/drawing/how-to-add-lone-pairs-radicals-and-formal-charges/).

## Tips

- Draw the arrows first, then add δ labels at each end of the polar bond.
- Use [Clean up](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/drawing/how-to-clean-up-2d-and-3d-structure-drawings/) to tidy the structure before a polarity figure.
- Arrows and labels show in PNG, SVG and PDF downloads.

## Common problems

| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The arrow points the wrong way | Click the bond again to reverse it. |
| The arrow disappeared | You clicked a third time, or both atoms pull equally. Click once more. |
| The δ label sits on a bond | Press on the atom and drag the label to a free spot. |
| A δ+ became δδ+ | Each click steps up. Keep clicking to clear it, then click once. |

For the theory, read the [bond polarity and dipole guide](https://www.moldraw.com/blog/bond-polarity-dipole-moment-guide.html). To check a bond quickly, try the [bond polarity checker](https://www.moldraw.com/tools/free-chem-tools/bond-polarity-dipole-checker.html).

## Questions and answers

**How do I draw an inductive effect arrow in MolDraw?**
Open the Bond type menu in the left rail and pick Inductive under Query / stereo. Click a single bond and the arrow points at the more electronegative side.

**How do I add delta plus and delta minus to atoms?**
Open the charge menu in the left rail, pick δ+ or δ−, and click the atom. Press and drag on the atom to move the label.

**How do I draw δδ+ in MolDraw?**
Pick the δ+ tool and click the same atom twice. A third click gives δδδ+ and a fourth click clears it.

**Do partial charges change the molecular formula or charge?**
No. δ+ and δ− labels and inductive arrows are display only. The formula, net charge and SMILES stay the same.

## Related pages

- [Lone pairs, radicals and charges](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/drawing/how-to-add-lone-pairs-radicals-and-formal-charges/)
- [Draw bonds](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/drawing/how-to-draw-single-double-triple-and-wedge-bonds/)
- [Special bond types](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/drawing/special-bond-types-dative-hydrogen-bold-wavy-and-query/)
- [Educational layout and Teaching menu](https://www.moldraw.com/docs/teaching/educational-layout-and-teaching-menu/)