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BHARATHI PRIA S.
JAYA KUMAR
LOCHANA SIVAKUMARAN
MUNISHA KRISHNASAMY
GREEN
AND
SUSTAINABLE CHEMICAL PROCESS
ATOM ECONOMY
• The atom economy of a reaction is a theoretical percentage measure of the amount of starting materials that
ends up as the 'desired' useful reaction products. Its sometimes referred to as atom utilisation.
• It indicates the intrinsic efficiency of the desired transformation.
• The design for synthesis of products should be such that all chemicals/materials used should be converted
into product to maximum extent.
• It is seen that most organic reactions release undesired products.
• The unutilized material is considered as waste which causes trouble & the process becomes uneconomical.
• Green chemistry requires new processes so that most of starting material gets converted into product and it is
called Maximising atom economy.
Step-by-step: How to calculate atom economy
Step 1. Write out the balanced equation.
Step 2. Calculate the relative molecular mass of each of the products.
Step 3. Calculate the total mass of all the products (remember to account for any numbers in front of the
symbols, eg 2 Fe2O3+ 3 C → 4 Fe + 3 CO2).
Step 4. Work out which of the products are wanted and calculate their mass (again, do not forget any numbers in
front of the symbols).
Apply the formula:
% Atom economy = Mass of wanted product(s) x 100

Total mass of products
Consider the general equation that uses reactants X and Y to form products Z and
W. If the desired product is Z, W is a waste for the reaction.
If the reaction has a higher atom economy, that means more of the desired
product is formed and there is less waste.
85%
70%
55%
40%
• Transferring the reaction mixture will cause some product to be lost.
• Spills and splashes will cause some product to be lost.
• Reaction may not be entirely complete
 Not waiting long enough
 Not mixed properly
 Reaction may not mix 100% complete
• Product may be wet or contain impurities.

• A number between 0% to 100% that shows how economically the
reaction produces the desired product.
• The higher the number, the more economical the reaction is.
• No practical work required to find the atom economy of a reaction.

EXAMPLES
OF
ATOM ECONOMY CALCULATIONS
Hydrogen can be manufactured by reacting methane with steam:
Methane + Steam → Hydrogen + Carbon Monoxide
CH4(g) + H2O(g) → 3H2(g) + CO(g)
In this reaction :
• carbon and oxygen atoms in the reactants do not form the useful product.
• carbon monoxide is a waste gas.
Hydrogen can be manufactured by reacting methane with steam:
CH4(g) + H2O(g) → 3H2(g) + CO(g)

Calculate the atom economy for the reaction. (Ar of H = 1, Ar of C = 12, Ar of O = 16)
Mr of CH4 = 12 + (4 × 1) = 16
Mr of H2O = (2 × 1) + 16 = 18
total Mr of reactants = 16 + 18 = 34
Ar of H2 = (2 × 1) = 2
total Mr of desired product = 3 × 2 = 6 (there are three H2 in the balanced equation)
% atom economy = 6⁄34 × 100 =
atom economy = 17.6% (to 3 significant figures)

Reduction of copper(II) oxide.
(a) CuO + H2 ==> Cu + H2O
• Formula masses: CuO = 79.5, H2 = 2, Cu = 63.5, H2O = 18
• Total mass of reactants = total mass of products 79.5 + 2 = 63.5 + 18 = 81.5
• Atom economy of desired product Cu = 100 x 63.5/81.5 = 77.9%
(b) 4CuO + CH4 ==> 4Cu + 2H2O + CO2

• Formula masses: CuO = 79.5, CH4 = 16, Cu = 63.5, H2O = 18, CO2 = 44
• Total mass of reactants = total mass of products
• (4 x 79.5) + 16 = (4 x 63.5) + (2 x 18) + 44 = 334
• atom economy of desired product Cu = 100 x (4 x 63.5)/334 = 76.0%
 Reaction (a) has the higher atom economy, BUT, hydrogen is probably more costly to
produce than cheap methane gas from crude oil. Therefore method (b) is probably more
economic.
Example:
What is the atom economy for making hydrogen by reacting coal with
steam?
1. Write the balanced equation:

C(s) + 2H2O(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2(g)
2. Total mass of products:

C(s) + 2H2O(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2(g)
12 2 × 18 44 2×2
44 + 4 = 48g (note that this is the same as the reactants: 12 + 36 = 48g)
3. Mass of desired product (H2) = 4g
% atom economy = 4⁄48 × 100 = 8.3%
This process has a low atom economy and is therefore an inefficient

way to make hydrogen. It also uses a non-renewable resource: coal.
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BHARATHI PRIA S.

• It indicates the intrinsic efficiency of the desired transformation.

• It is seen that most organic reactions release undesired products.

Step 1. Write out the balanced equation.

Step 2. Calculate the relative molecular mass of each of the products.

Apply the formula:

% Atom economy = Mass of wanted product(s) x 100

• Spills and splashes will cause some product to be lost.

• Reaction may not be entirely complete

 Not waiting long enough

 Not mixed properly

 Reaction may not mix 100% complete

• Product may be wet or contain impurities.

reaction produces the desired product.

• No practical work required to find the atom economy of a reaction.

Methane + Steam → Hydrogen + Carbon Monoxide

CH4(g) + H2O(g) → 3H2(g) + CO(g)

CH4(g) + H2O(g) → 3H2(g) + CO(g)

total Mr of desired product = 3 × 2 = 6 (there are three H2 in the balanced equation)

% atom economy = 6⁄34 × 100 =

atom economy = 17.6% (to 3 significant figures)

(b) 4CuO + CH4 ==> 4Cu + 2H2O + CO2

1. Write the balanced equation:

2. Total mass of products:

3. Mass of desired product (H2) = 4g

% atom economy = 4⁄48 × 100 = 8.3%

This process has a low atom economy and is therefore an inefficient

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