How does atom economy relate to waste reduction?

Atom economy is directly related to waste reduction as it measures the proportion of reactants that become useful products, reducing waste.

Atom economy is a concept in green chemistry that quantifies the amount of waste produced in a chemical reaction. It is calculated by dividing the total mass of the desired product by the total mass of all products, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. The higher the atom economy, the less waste is produced, making the process more efficient and environmentally friendly.

For example, consider a reaction where you start with 100g of reactants and end up with 80g of desired product and 20g of waste. The atom economy of this reaction would be (80/100) x 100 = 80%. This means that 80% of the reactants have been converted into useful products, while 20% have become waste.

In the context of industrial chemistry, a high atom economy is desirable as it means that more of the raw materials are being converted into useful products, reducing the amount of waste produced. This not only saves resources but also reduces the cost and environmental impact of waste disposal.

Furthermore, atom economy is a useful tool for comparing different methods of producing the same product. A method with a higher atom economy is generally preferred as it produces less waste. This is particularly important in the pharmaceutical industry, where the production of drugs often involves complex reactions with multiple steps, each of which can produce waste.

In summary, atom economy is a measure of how efficiently a chemical reaction converts reactants into products. By maximising atom economy, we can minimise the amount of waste produced, contributing to more sustainable and environmentally friendly chemistry.