Atom Economy

• What is atom economy in industrial reactions?

  % of reactants forming useful products
• Why is atom economy important in industrial reactions?

  It maximizes useful product yield from reactants
• What does a high atom economy indicate about a reaction?

  It is more environmentally friendly
• What is the formula for calculating atom economy?

  atom economy = (relative formula mass of desired products x 100) / (relative formula mass of all reactants)
• If a reaction has 100% atom economy, what does that mean?

  All reactant atoms are converted to useful products
• How does the number of products affect atom economy?

  More products typically lower the atom economy
• What are the implications of low atom economy in reactions?

  • Generates significant waste materials
  • Unsustainable due to resource depletion
  • Often unprofitable due to high raw material costs
  • Waste disposal can be expensive
• What is a potential solution for waste products in reactions?

  Find a use for the waste products
• What is the atom economy of a reaction with only one product?

  100%
• What factors should be considered alongside atom economy when choosing a reaction?

  Yield, reaction rate, and equilibrium position
• How do you calculate the relative formula mass of CH4?

  M(CH4) = 12 + (4 × 1) = 16
• What is the atom economy calculated for the reaction producing hydrogen gas?

  17.6%
• Which reaction, A or B, has the higher atom economy?

  Reaction B has the higher atom economy
• How do you calculate the atom economy for the production of NH3 by reaction A?

  Use the formula for atom economy
• What is the significance of atom economy in quantitative chemistry?

  • Indicates efficiency of chemical reactions
  • Affects sustainability and profitability
  • Influences environmental impact of processes