Atom Economy: Polyethylene from Ethene
Addition polymerization of ethene to polyethylene has a 100% atom economy because the monomer repeat unit (28.05 g/mol) is identical to the product unit.
How to use this tool
- Enter molar mass of desired product, stoichiometric coefficient of product and total molar mass of all reactants (sum of m×coeff) in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your atom economy and the full breakdown beneath it.
Polymerization reactions are prized in green chemistry for their 100% atom economy — all monomer atoms become product.
Frequently asked questions
- What is atom economy used for?
- It was introduced by Barry Trost (1991) as a measure of synthetic efficiency. High atom economy reactions waste fewer atoms and generate less chemical waste, making them preferable in green chemistry and industrial synthesis.
- What is the difference between atom economy and percent yield?
- Percent yield measures how much of the theoretical product you actually collected. Atom economy measures how much of the reactant mass ends up in the desired product regardless of yield. A reaction can have 100% yield but low atom economy if most reactant atoms end up in by-products.