1. What is Percentage Atom Economy?

Percentage Atom Economy (PAE) is a measure of the efficiency of a chemical reaction. It calculates what percentage of the atoms from the reactants end up in the desired product, which is important for green chemistry and sustainable processes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Percentage Atom Economy formula:

Where:

• \( MW_p \) — Molecular weight of the desired product (g/mol)
• \( MW_r \) — Sum of molecular weights of all reactants (g/mol)

Explanation: The equation compares the mass of atoms in the product to the total mass of atoms in all reactants, expressed as a percentage.

3. Importance of Atom Economy

Details: High atom economy means less waste and more efficient use of resources. It's a key principle in green chemistry, helping to minimize environmental impact and reduce costs in chemical production.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the molecular weight of your product and the sum of molecular weights of all reactants in g/mol. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a good atom economy percentage?
A: 100% is ideal (all atoms end up in product). Above 80% is generally good, while below 50% suggests room for improvement.

Q2: How does this differ from reaction yield?
A: Yield measures how much product you actually get, while atom economy measures theoretical maximum efficiency based on stoichiometry.

Q3: Should byproducts be included in MW_r?
A: No, MW_r includes only the reactants that contribute atoms to the desired product.

Q4: Can this be used for multi-step syntheses?
A: Yes, but you need to calculate for each step and consider the overall process.

Q5: What are ways to improve atom economy?
A: Use reactions with fewer byproducts, find uses for byproducts, or redesign synthesis pathways.