Final answer:
The symbol → in an equation is called a yield sign, separating reactants from products and indicating that a chemical reaction takes place.
Step-by-step explanation:
The symbol → in an equation signifies that a chemical reaction takes place, and it is commonly referred to as the yield sign. It is used to separate the reactants from the products in a chemical equation. For example, in the equation 2H2 + O2 → 2H2O, the arrow is read as "yields" and indicates that hydrogen and oxygen combine to form water. Unlike in mathematics, where an equal sign indicates equivalence, in chemistry, the yield sign represents a transformation. Further information can be added above or below the arrow to indicate reaction conditions, such as the presence of a catalyst or the addition of heat, which can be depicted by placing a triangle (Δ) above the arrow.