How are curly arrows used in representing electrophilic addition?

In representing electrophilic addition, curly arrows are utilized to show the movement of electron pairs. These arrows illustrate how electrons are reallocated during the reaction process. Specifically, they trace the path of nucleophilic attack on an electrophile, depicting the transfer of an electron pair from a nucleophile to the electrophile. This movement is crucial in understanding how bonds are formed and broken during the reaction, leading to new product formation.

By following the curly arrows, one can visualize how the electrons from the double bond of the alkene, for example, are used to form a bond with the electrophile, resulting in the creation of a new bond in the product. This convention is fundamental in organic chemistry, enabling chemists to predict the mechanisms of reactions and understand the changes in electron distribution that accompany molecular transformations.