When to use this calculator
Atom economy is a theoretical reaction measure and differs from actual percent yield or process waste.
Explore the reaction quantities & yield calculators for other questions in this topic. For a related calculation, use the First Order Reaction Half Life Calculator: Find half-life from a first-order reaction rate constant.
PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE
Atom Economy: a worked example
The values below are an illustrative example, not a recommendation. Replace them with measurements or assumptions that match your question.
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Desired product stoichiometric mass | 80 |
| Total reactant stoichiometric mass | 100 |
| Result | 80 % |
- Check the input labels and enter the example values above.
- Apply the relationship: Atom economy (%) = desired product mass/total reactant mass × 100.
- The result is 80 %, rounded for display.
How to interpret your result
Use stoichiometric mass totals from a balanced reaction, not actual batch masses.
Balance the chemical equation before using mole ratios. Identify the limiting reactant separately. Yield, purity and atom economy measure different aspects of a reaction and should not be substituted for one another.
Frequently asked questions
Is percent yield the same as atom economy?
No. Yield compares actual product against a theoretical amount; atom economy describes stoichiometric use of reactant mass in the desired product.
When is the atom economy calculator useful?
Atom economy is a theoretical reaction measure and differs from actual percent yield or process waste.
How do I use the atom economy calculator?
Enter desired product stoichiometric mass, total reactant stoichiometric mass. The result updates automatically. Use the units shown beside each input; the example values illustrate the method.
Which formula does this calculator use?
Atom economy (%) = desired product mass/total reactant mass × 100.
What should I check before using the result?
Use stoichiometric mass totals from a balanced reaction, not actual batch masses.
How are results rounded?
Scalar numbers display up to six decimal places, with scientific notation for very large or small values. Text, fraction, date and schedule outputs use the format described on the tool. Intermediate calculations use JavaScript floating-point arithmetic. Keep sensible precision for your measurements.
Further reading
For background on this topic, see OpenStax: quantitative chemical analysis ↗. This is a topic reference, not an external review or endorsement of this tool.
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