Before we dive into full-blown organic reaction mechanisms, let's take a quick spin around the sandbox. Curved arrows are the primary language of organic chemistry—they show you exactly how electron pairs flow during a reaction. As a rule of thumb, your arrows will always start from a source of electrons (like a lone pair or negative charge) and point toward an electron-deficient sink (like a proton or positive charge).
To get your bearings, let's start with a classic, simple acid-base reaction. Your first task is straightforward: use an electron-pushing arrow to show a hydroxide ion (OH−) reaching out to pick up a proton (H+).
Once you nail this first arrow, you'll have the mechanics down and you'll be ready to tackle full reaction pathways!