Balanced Equations and Industrial Applications
Percentage yield compares what you actually get versus what you theoretically should get, while percentage atom economy measures how much of your starting materials end up in your desired product rather than waste.
The formula triangle method works for all these calculations: actual yield over theoretical yield times 100 for percentage yield, and molecular mass of desired product over sum of all reactant masses times 100 for atom economy.
High atom economy isn't just good chemistry - it's good business and good for the planet. Industrial processes with high atom economy are cheaper (less waste to separate), more sustainable (fewer raw materials needed), and environmentally friendlier (less waste produced).
💡 Industry insight: A reaction can have high percentage yield but low atom economy if it produces lots of unwanted by-products alongside the desired product.
Remember that volume of gas = moles × 24 dm³ at room conditions, and always check your balanced equations before starting any calculation - they're your roadmap to the right answer.