Atom economy simplified

Molecule Detail

What about more detail
on Aspirin atom economy

Aspirin, also known as acetylsalicylic acid, has a molar mass (Mr) of 180.17 g/mol. Below is a simplified overview of how atom economy is calculated for its synthesis.

What is Green Chemistry and
what is Atom Economy?

Green chemistry focuses on efficient and sustainable reactions that minimize waste. One key principle is atom economy, which measures how much of the reactant atoms end up in the desired final product.
A higher atom economy means fewer by-products and a more resource-efficient process. It’s a simple way to assess how effectively raw materials are converted into useful output.
Synthesis of aspirinKey fact about atom economy

Calculating the
atom economy of aspirin

Molar mass of acetic acid = 60 g/mol
Molar mass of aspirin = 180 g/mol
Total molar mass of reactants = 240 g/mol

Atom economy = (180 / 240) × 100 = 75%

This means 75% of the reactant atoms are present in the final product, making it a reasonably efficient reaction.
The by-product, acetic acid, can still be reused or sold for other chemical processes, further improving overall material efficiency.

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