Free Atom Economy Calculator
Calculate atom economy to assess how much of the reactant atoms end up in the desired product versus waste byproducts.
Atom Economy
81.82 %
Atom Economy vs Molecular Weight of Desired Product
Atom Economy
Atom economy (atom efficiency) measures how much of the reactant atoms are incorporated into the desired product. It is a green chemistry metric independent of yield.
Formula
Atom Economy = (MW of desired product / sum of MW of all products) × 100%
Reactions with high atom economy produce less waste by design. Addition reactions (100% atom economy) are preferred over substitution or elimination reactions that generate byproducts.
Example Calculation
A reaction produces a desired product (MW=180) and a byproduct (MW=40).
- 01Atom economy = (180 / 220) × 100 = 81.82%
- 02Waste fraction = 100 - 81.82 = 18.18%
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn More
Understanding Molarity
Learn what molarity is, how to calculate it, and why it matters in chemistry. Covers moles, liters, dilution, and step-by-step examples for preparing solutions.