1. What is Atom Economy?

Atom economy measures the efficiency of a chemical reaction by calculating what percentage of the mass of reactants becomes part of the desired product. It's a key concept in green chemistry that helps minimize waste.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the atom economy formula:

Where:

• \( \text{MW}_{\text{desired}} \) — Molecular weight of desired product (g/mol)
• \( \sum \text{MW}_{\text{reactants}} \) — Sum of molecular weights of all reactants (g/mol)

Explanation: The equation shows what percentage of the total mass of reactants ends up in the desired product. Higher percentages indicate more efficient reactions.

3. Importance of Atom Economy

Details: Atom economy is crucial for sustainable chemistry. Reactions with high atom economy generate less waste, reduce raw material costs, and are more environmentally friendly.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the molecular weight of your desired product and the sum of molecular weights for all reactants. Both values must be in g/mol and greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good atom economy percentage?
A: Ideal is 100%, but values above 80% are considered good. Addition reactions typically have 100% atom economy.

Q2: How does atom economy differ from yield?
A: Yield measures how much product you actually got compared to theoretically possible, while atom economy measures how much reactant mass ends up in the desired product.

Q3: Can atom economy be greater than 100%?
A: No, since it's a percentage of reactants becoming product, the maximum possible is 100%.

Q4: What types of reactions have poor atom economy?
A: Elimination and substitution reactions often have lower atom economy as they produce byproducts.

Q5: How can I improve atom economy?
A: Use reactions that incorporate most reactants into the product (like addition reactions), or find uses for byproducts.