There is no point reaching for a calculator that cannot show its working. This one starts from reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, desired product, reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, stoichiometric coefficient 1, stoichiometric coefficient 2, stoichiometric coefficient 3, stoichiometric coefficient 4, stoichiometric coefficient 5, stoichiometric coefficient 6, product stoichiometric coefficient and desired product and reports reagents (total) and atom economy, so you can see how each answer follows from the numbers you entered.
What Is the Atom Economy Calculator?
The atom economy calculator turns reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, desired product, reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, stoichiometric coefficient 1, stoichiometric coefficient 2, stoichiometric coefficient 3, stoichiometric coefficient 4, stoichiometric coefficient 5, stoichiometric coefficient 6, product stoichiometric coefficient and desired product into reagents (total) and atom economy.
It is a quick way to get from the numbers you have to the number you need, without setting up a spreadsheet or reaching for a formula.
How the Atom Economy Works
Each result follows from the ones before it, and the calculator shows every step, so a surprising answer can be traced back to the input that caused it.
Round your inputs to the precision you actually know, and keep more precision than that in the intermediate steps.
Getting a Result You Can Trust
Run the calculation twice with slightly different inputs. A sensible calculator moves its output in proportion; a wild change points to a unit or a decimal point problem in what you entered.
Write the inputs down next to the answer. It takes a moment and it is the difference between a number you can explain and one you cannot.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with reagent 1 set to 10, reagent 2 set to 5, reagent 3 set to 2, the calculator returns reagents (total) of 132, and reagents (total) (mw reagents) of 1,560, and atom economy of 0.01515. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out reagents (total)?
Enter reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, desired product, reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, stoichiometric coefficient 1, stoichiometric coefficient 2, stoichiometric coefficient 3, stoichiometric coefficient 4, stoichiometric coefficient 5, stoichiometric coefficient 6, product stoichiometric coefficient and desired product. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports reagents (total) and atom economy.
What does the atom economy actually calculate?
It takes reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, desired product, reagent 1, reagent 2, reagent 3, reagent 4, reagent 5, reagent 6, stoichiometric coefficient 1, stoichiometric coefficient 2, stoichiometric coefficient 3, stoichiometric coefficient 4, stoichiometric coefficient 5, stoichiometric coefficient 6, product stoichiometric coefficient and desired product and converts them into reagents (total) and atom economy using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter reagent 1?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Do I have to fill in every field?
Only the fields a particular result depends on. If you leave one blank, the results that need it simply show a note instead of a number, and everything else still works.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.