xleftrightharpoons
Represents a reversible chemical reaction with both forward and reverse reaction rates labeled above and below the arrows.
Overview
Essential in physical chemistry and chemical kinetics for depicting equilibrium reactions where rate constants or reaction conditions need to be explicitly shown.
- Commonly used in advanced chemistry textbooks and research papers to show detailed reaction mechanisms.
- Allows labeling of forward and reverse reaction rates or conditions simultaneously.
- Particularly useful when discussing chemical equilibrium, reaction kinetics, and thermodynamic processes.
- More detailed alternative to the simple double arrow (⇌) when specific reaction parameters need to be displayed.
Examples
Reversible enzyme reaction with substrate and product.
E + S \xleftrightharpoons[k_{off}]{k_{on}} ESIon exchange equilibrium with charge indicators.
\text{Na}^+ + \text{K-resin} \xleftrightharpoons[\beta]{\alpha} \text{K}^+ + \text{Na-resin}