5.22 - Atom Economy Flashcards
1
Q
What is atom economy?
A
The molar mass of the desired product divided by the sum of the molar masses of the reactants, expressed as a percentage
2
Q
When is atom economy commonly used?
A
In industry where there are chemical processes
3
Q
What does it mean to have 100% atom economy?
A
That all of the reactants formed the desired product - there was no waste product
4
Q
Why is having waste products bad?
A
- It means that the reaction isn’t effective at making the product
- Waste products have to be disposed of
5
Q
What would be the implications of having a reaction with an atom economy of 32.4%?
A
It would mean that more money would have to be spent to make the same amount of product, compared to a reaction with an atom economy of 100%
