Atom Economy (AQA A-Level Chemistry): Revision Notes
📚 Revision Notes
1.2.5 Atom Economy
Percentage Atom Economy
Atom economy measures the efficiency of a reaction by calculating how much of the reactants end up as the desired product. Higher atom economy is desirable for environmental, economic, and ethical reasons, as it reduces waste and maximises resource use.
infoNote
Example: In the production of water from hydrogen and oxygen:
The desired product is water, so the atom economy would be:
This reaction has 100% atom economy as all reactants form the desired product.
Importance of High Atom Economy
Developing chemical processes with high atom economy offers:
- Economic advantages: Less waste means lower costs for disposal and materials.
- Environmental benefits: Reduces the production of harmful by-products and conserves resources.
- Ethical considerations: Supports sustainable practices, reducing the environmental footprint of industrial processes.