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Choosing reaction pathways for efficient production

Quantitative chemistry • Yield and atom economy

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Atom economy measures the proportion of reactant atoms that are included in the desired product.
  • High atom economy leads to less raw material waste and fewer by-products, enhancing sustainability and reducing disposal costs.
  • The formula for atom economy is atom economy = (relative formula mass of desired product / sum of relative formula masses of all reactants) × 100%.
  • Low atom economy results in substantial volumes of waste by-products that necessitate treatment or disposal.
  • Regulatory standards favor higher atom economy in large-scale manufacturing due to the reduction of waste and material costs.

Flashcards

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What is atom economy?

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Atom economy indicates the percentage of reactant atoms incorporated into the desired product.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Atom economy emphasizes atom utilization; percentage yield focuses on actual output.

High atom economy reduces waste but does not guarantee a high yield.

Reaction rate impacts throughput and reactor size.

Equilibrium positions limit maximum conversion; altering conditions can change achievable yield.

The usefulness of by-products may compensate for lower atom economy.

Choosing a practical pathway balances chemistry with cost, safety, and environmental impact.

Catalysts enhance rate and selectivity without changing atom economy.

Purification can lower percentage yield and increase costs.

Scale-up can magnify waste and hazard issues, impacting pathway preferences.

Comparative analysis requires metrics like cost, mass, and energy for all factors.

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