3.3.3 Calculating Atom Economy

What is "Atom Economy"?

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Atom economy measures how much of the reactants end up as useful products. A higher atom economy means fewer waste products and a more efficient reaction. This is important because it makes the process more sustainable and cost-effective.

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How to Calculate Atom Economy: The formula for atom economy is:

Percentage Atom Economy=(\frac{Mr of Desired Product}{Mr of All Products})×100

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Example:

Fermentation of Glucose:
Suppose you're making ethanol (C₂H₅OH) from glucose (C₆H₁₂O₆).
The Mr of ethanol is 92, and the total Mr of all products (including waste) is 180.
Using the formula:

Percentage Atom Economy=(\frac{92}{180})×100=51%

So, 51% of the atoms in the reactants end up in the desired product.
Hydration of Ethene:
In this process, all the reactants are turned into ethanol, so the atom economy is 100%. This means no atoms are wasted, making it a very efficient reaction.

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