Question

Methyl alcohol can react with the acetate anion to form acetic acid and methoxide anion. the mechanism of the reaction can be shown using curved arrows. which of the two equations a or b use curved arrows correctly? explain your choice in the explanation box.

Answer 1

When you write the reaction, it is shown below:

CH₃OH + CH₃COO⁻  →  CH₃COOH + CH₃O⁻

Since no figure is given showing the direction of the curves, I can't be really sure what you are referring to. However, I would guess that the first arrow is from the H atom of methyl alcohol transferring to the acetate ion. As a result, the methyl alcohol turns into an anion called methoxide.