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.

$$\text{Percentage Atom Economy} = \frac{\text{Molecular mass of desired product}}{\text{Sum of molecular masses of all reactants}} \times 100$$

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.