Atom Economy Calculator
Calculate atom economy from desired product and reactant molar masses.
Atom Economy measurements
Enter your values, then calculate.
Result
How to calculate atom economy
Atom economy measures what percentage of the mass of reactants in a chemical reaction ends up in the desired product, versus being lost as byproduct — a green chemistry metric for evaluating reaction efficiency and waste.
How the calculation works
Atom economy = (Molar mass of desired product ÷ Total molar mass of reactants) × 100.
Example
A reaction with a desired product molar mass of 180 g/mol from reactants totaling 250 g/mol: Atom economy = (180 ÷ 250) × 100 = 72%.
Frequently asked questions
How is Result calculated?
Result = 100 × [Desired product molar mass] ÷ [Total reactant molar mass].
Is the Atom Economy Calculator free to use?
Yes — every calculator on Simple Calculator Tools is free, runs in your browser, and does not require an account.
Atom Economy Calculator
Atom economy = (Molar mass of desired product ÷ Total molar mass of reactants) × 100.
Let's understand your atom economy result.
Calculate a result above and this guide will help you interpret it using this calculator's own formula and explanation.
Pro Tips for Atom Economy
- Atom economy is a theoretical maximum based on stoichiometry — actual yield (which also accounts for real-world reaction efficiency) is usually lower.
- Reactions with high atom economy are generally considered more environmentally efficient, since less mass ends up as waste byproduct.
Common Atom Economy Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing atom economy (a stoichiometric, theoretical measure) with percent yield (an experimental measure of how much product was actually obtained) — they answer different questions.
When to Use This Calculator
Atom economy measures what percentage of the mass of reactants in a chemical reaction ends up in the desired product, versus being lost as byproduct — a green chemistry metric for evaluating reaction efficiency and waste.