CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

I am a little confused on the rules of transition steps.
In general, how do you know where to connect each of the atoms in the reaction?

Usually the atom, for electrophilic addition, will go to where the double bond is breaking. For SN2, the atom goes to the spot of the atom it is replacing (if that makes sense). The transition state is kind of just making the mechanism into 2 parts so it is easier to visualize what order it occurs in.

That helps, thanks!

Also, for electrophilic addition, we often have a main molecule with a double bond and a molecule with two elements. If a double bond is broken and an atom from the two-element molecule has been added, the other part of the two-part molecule will be added to the other side of the double bond.

All bonds affected by arrows are shows as dashed

If we are breaking a bond do we show it as attached in the transition step or separately?

I think you still have to use the dashed arrows in the transition step because in the transition step it still hasn't fully broken off yet

I believe the dash arrows are only shown during the transition step to indicate what molecule is attaching and which one is leaving.

^^ agreed

i think you would still need to use the dashed arrows in the transition step because in the transition step it still hasn't fully broken off yet