Atom Economy Calculator
Calculate the atom economy of chemical reactions to assess their environmental impact and sustainability in green chemistry
Calculate Atom Economy
Compare desired product mass to total reactant mass
Reactants
Total Reactant Mass: 0.00 g/mol
Products
Total Product Mass: 0.00 g/mol
The main product you want to analyze for atom economy
Atom Economy Results
Calculation Details
Formula: Atom Economy = (Desired Product Mass / Total Reactant Mass) × 100%
Calculation: AE = (0.00 / 0.00) × 100% = 0.0%
Desired Product: 1 × (0 g/mol each)
Green Chemistry Assessment:
Green Chemistry Analysis
Example Calculation
Glucose to Ethanol Fermentation
Reaction: C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH + 2CO₂
Reactant: 1 mol glucose (180.16 g/mol)
Desired Product: 2 mol ethanol (46.07 g/mol each)
Byproduct: 2 mol CO₂ (44.01 g/mol each)
Step-by-Step Calculation
Step 1: Calculate desired product mass = 2 × 46.07 = 92.14 g/mol
Step 2: Total reactant mass = 180.16 g/mol
Step 3: Atom Economy = (92.14 / 180.16) × 100% = 51.1%
Result: 51.1% atom economy - Fair efficiency with moderate waste
Alternative: C₂H₄ + H₂O → C₂H₅OH has 100% atom economy!
Greenness Scale
Excellent
80-100% AE
Very green chemistry
Good
60-79% AE
Moderately green
Fair
40-59% AE
Some waste
Poor
20-39% AE
Significant waste
Very Poor
< 20% AE
High waste
Reaction Types
Addition (100% AE)
A + B → C
No byproducts
Rearrangement (100% AE)
A → B
Isomerization
Substitution (< 100% AE)
A + BC → AC + B
Produces byproducts
Elimination (< 100% AE)
AB → A + B
High waste
Key Concepts
Atom Economy Formula
AE = (Mdesired/Mtotal) × 100%
Measures atom utilization
Green Chemistry
Sustainable chemical processes
Minimize environmental impact
Waste Reduction
Higher AE = less waste
Economic and environmental benefits
Understanding Atom Economy
What is Atom Economy?
Atom economy is a measure of how efficiently the atoms in reactants are converted into the desired product. Introduced by Barry Trost in 1991, it's a key metric in green chemistry for assessing the environmental sustainability of chemical reactions.
Why is Atom Economy Important?
- •Quantifies waste generation in chemical processes
- •Guides design of environmentally friendly reactions
- •Reduces raw material costs and waste disposal
- •Promotes sustainable industrial chemistry
Formula Explanation
Theoretical Method
AE = (Mdesired product / Mtotal reactants) × 100%
Compares to input materials
Experimental Method
AE = (Mdesired product / Mtotal products) × 100%
Compares to actual output
Key Points
Include stoichiometric coefficients
Multiply molecular weights by coefficients
Note: Atom economy differs from yield - it measures theoretical efficiency regardless of reaction conditions