Atomic and Molecular Structure

Atom economy means maximizing the incorporation of material from the

starting materials or reagents into the final product. It is essentially
pollution prevention at the molecular level. For example, a chemist
practicing atom economy would choose to synthesize a needed product by
putting together basic building blocks, rather than by breaking down a
much larger starting material and discarding most of it as waste. Atom
economy moves the practice of minimizing waste to the molecular level.
Traditionally, chemists have focused on maximizing yield, minimizing the
number of steps or synthesizing a completely unique chemical.

Reaction:

Having presented the above concepts on atom economy adopted from American
Chemical Society, it seems that this kind of reaction helps in to prevent
pollution which is the most popular issue in today’s world. Chemical reactions
happen all around us, and due to these chemical waste products released
during reactions, they become environmentally hazardous that contributes to
pollution. It is very important to reduce these pollutants as products or by-
products of reactions.

In a simpler way to explain atom economy, let’s take for example

 synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen and hydrogen and reacting ethene with
water to make ethanol.

N2 + 3H2 ==> 2NH3    and    CH2=CH2  +  H2O  ===>  CH3CH2OH

As explained, these are simple addition reactions where two reactants give one
product. If a reaction gives more than one product some can be used or sold and
thereby it’s more economic but there are instances when these products should be
dealt with and be disposed safely but it’s costly. But nevertheless, there are called by-
products which are useful and can be recycled and have high economic value after
further treatment and undergo further separation process.

Therefore, the less waste, the higher the atomic economy which means that
there are less materials wasted, less energy used, and cheaper process, greener
and more sustainable.

   MASS of desired USEFUL PRODUCT

ATOM ECONOMY   =  100  x  ------------------------------------------------------------------      

TOTAL MASS of all REACTANTS or PRODUCTS
Almost all reactions yields many products, some are not useful, so
with the use of atom economy, the amount of products that are
theoretically useful are calculated to minimized waste.

The greater the % atom economy of a reaction, the more 'efficient' or

'economic' it is likely to be, though this is a gross simplification when
complex and costly chemical synthesis are looked at.