Question

Which from following formulae is a correct formula to determine percent atom economy?

• A. $\% \text{ Atom economy} = \text{Formula weight of product} \times 100$
• B. $\% \text{ Atom economy} = \text{Sum of formula weight of all reactants} \times 100$
• C. $\% \text{ Atom economy} = \frac{\text{Formula weight of desired product}}{\text{Sum of formula weight of all reactants}} \times 100$
• D. $\% \text{ Atom economy} = \frac{\text{Sum of formula weight of all reactants}}{\text{Formula weight of desired product}} \times 100$

Hint:

Think of atom economy just like a typical exam score percentage: (What you want) (Total available) $\times$ 100. The "Desired Product" goes on top as the numerator, and the "Sum of All Reactants" serves as the denominator.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
Identify the correct percent atom economy formula under green chemistry principles.

Step 2: Key Formula or Approach:
Atom economy measures how much reactant mass ends up in the desired product.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
The metric is defined as (Mass of Desired Product / Total Mass of All Reactants) × 100. This evaluates the efficiency of incorporating reactant atoms into the target molecule, minimizing byproduct waste.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The correct formula is represented by option (C).