MolDraw Learn

How to draw curved arrow mechanisms

Beginner 6 min 4 steps

Short answer: Draw the species, add lone pairs, then draw a curved arrow from the electrons to the atom that receives them.

You will learn to: Draw hydroxide and chloromethane; Show lone pairs on oxygen; Draw a curved arrow.

1 Watch demo2 Try in editor

Watch the demo

A mechanism step in about 25 seconds.

The steps in text

Step 1: Draw hydroxide

  1. Click O in the atom palette and click the left side of the canvas.
  2. Pick the minus tool in the left rail. Click the O.

Step 2: Draw chloromethane

  1. Click C in the palette. Pick the single bond tool. Click to the right of hydroxide.
  2. Click Cl in the atom palette. Click the right end of the new bond.

Step 3: Add lone pairs to O

  1. Pick the lone pair tool.
  2. Click the O atom two times.

Step 4: Draw a curved arrow

  1. Open the arrow menu (small arrow next to the reaction arrow tool). Pick Curved.
  2. Drag from the O toward the carbon.

Try it in the editor

The full MolDraw editor opens here. It loads when you open this tab.

Questions and answers

Where should a curved arrow start?

Start it at a lone pair or a bond. Electrons move from there.

What is a fishhook arrow?

A fishhook arrow moves one electron. Use it for radical steps.

Can I bend a curved arrow?

Yes. Drag its middle handle to change the curve.

For more detail, read the guide in the docs.