Reaction Pathway
Chemistry: AQA GCSE Higher, topic 3.1.22
Reaction Pathways
Reaction pathways (ways reactions happen) with high atom economies (% of useful products made) are good because:
Cost-effectiveness
- Using the smallest possible amount of reactants saves money.
Low waste
- A higher atom economy means that less waste is produced.
Choosing a reaction pathway
- When selecting a reaction pathway, we don't just consider atom economy. We also look at:
- How much the reactants cost.
- What the percentage yield will be.
- How quickly the reaction will happen.
- How useful the by-products of the reaction are.
- The position of equilibrium.
Test yourself on Reaction Pathway
Reaction pathways with high atom economies...
What factors, other than atom economy, affect the choice of reaction pathway?
What does a reaction pathway's atom economy measure?
Two reaction pathways make the same product, but Pathway A has a lower atom economy than Pathway B. Why might a chemist still choose Pathway A if its reactants are much cheaper?
Two reaction pathways make the same product, but Pathway A has a lower atom economy than Pathway B. Why might a chemist still choose Pathway A if it has a much higher percentage yield?