Precipitate arrow

A downward arrow after a formula, marking a solid falling out of solution.

Also known as: Down arrow chemistry, Precipitation arrow

ScientificStandard profile

Meanings

A downward arrow after a formula means that product leaves the solution as a solid. Its upward twin means a gas escapes — the direction is a picture of where the substance physically goes.

Common modern usageVerified fact
Marks a product that leaves the solution as an insoluble solid.
Contexts: Laboratory
Common modern usageVerified fact
Is mirrored by an upward arrow marking a product that leaves as a gas, so the direction of the arrow pictures where the substance physically goes.
Contexts: Laboratory
Common modern usageVerified fact
Is an alternative to the state symbol (s) written after the formula, which states the same thing in words.
Contexts: Laboratory

Visual description

A short vertical arrow pointing downward, set immediately after a chemical formula on the same line.

Symmetry: vertical
Orientation: upright

Opposite of: Gas evolution arrow
Solid leaving downward against gas leaving upward.

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the Gold Book)
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry · retrieved 2026-08-01
The chemical community's own terminology reference, freely available. Cited for definitions of chemical terms and conventions; it does not govern how a reaction is drawn on a whiteboard, and records about drawing practice cite reference works instead.
Precipitation (chemistry)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a symbol denotes in ordinary scientific practice and for which fields reuse it, never for a claim that any body assigns the letter its meaning.
Chemical equation
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a symbol denotes in ordinary scientific practice and for which fields reuse it, never for a claim that any body assigns the letter its meaning.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31

Part of

Chemical equation and structure notation

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Meanings

A downward arrow after a formula means that product leaves the solution as a solid. Its upward twin means a gas escapes — the direction is a picture of where the substance physically goes.

Common modern usageVerified fact

Marks a product that leaves the solution as an insoluble solid.

Contexts: Laboratory

Common modern usageVerified fact

Is mirrored by an upward arrow marking a product that leaves as a gas, so the direction of the arrow pictures where the substance physically goes.

Contexts: Laboratory

Common modern usageVerified fact

Is an alternative to the state symbol (s) written after the formula, which states the same thing in words.

Contexts: Laboratory

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Historical originModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.
Visual matchHigh confidence: High confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but multiple independent sources agree.

Sources

IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the Gold Book)
International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry · retrieved 2026-08-01
The chemical community's own terminology reference, freely available. Cited for definitions of chemical terms and conventions; it does not govern how a reaction is drawn on a whiteboard, and records about drawing practice cite reference works instead.
Precipitation (chemistry)
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a symbol denotes in ordinary scientific practice and for which fields reuse it, never for a claim that any body assigns the letter its meaning.
Chemical equation
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-01
Tertiary reference. Used for what a symbol denotes in ordinary scientific practice and for which fields reuse it, never for a claim that any body assigns the letter its meaning.

Last reviewed 2026-07-31

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols

Meanings

Visual description

Related & commonly confused symbols