Calcium phosphate is a biocompatible ceramic widely synthesized for use as a synthetic bone graft material in orthopedic surgeries. One industrial route to produce calcium phosphate is via the precipitation reaction between aqueous calcium chloride and trisodium phosphate.
The chemical process is shown schematically below:
The balanced equation for this reaction is: 3CaCl2(aq)+2Na3PO4(aq)→Ca3(PO4)2(s)+6NaCl(aq)3\text{CaCl}_2(\text{aq}) + 2\text{Na}_3\text{PO}_4(\text{aq}) \rightarrow \text{Ca}_3(\text{PO}_4)_2(\text{s}) + 6\text{NaCl}(\text{aq})3CaCl2(aq)+2Na3PO4(aq)→Ca3(PO4)2(s)+6NaCl(aq)
Calculate the percentage atom economy for the production of the desired product, calcium phosphate, by this reaction.
Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
Relative formula masses (MrM_rMr):
- CaCl2=111\text{CaCl}_2 = 111CaCl2=111
- Na3PO4=164\text{Na}_3\text{PO}_4 = 164Na3PO4=164
- Ca3(PO4)2=310\text{Ca}_3(\text{PO}_4)_2 = 310Ca3(PO4)2=310
- NaCl=58.5\text{NaCl} = 58.5NaCl=58.5