1. What is Percent Yield?

Percent yield is a measure of the efficiency of a chemical reaction or process. It compares the actual amount of product obtained (actual yield) to the maximum possible amount that could be obtained under ideal conditions (theoretical yield).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percent yield formula:

Where:

• Actual Yield — The actual amount of product obtained from the reaction (grams)
• Theoretical Yield — The maximum possible amount of product calculated from stoichiometry (grams)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the theoretical maximum was actually achieved in the experiment.

3. Importance of Percent Yield Calculation

Details: Percent yield is crucial for evaluating reaction efficiency, optimizing processes, calculating economic viability, and identifying sources of product loss in chemical reactions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both actual and theoretical yields in grams. Both values must be positive numbers, and theoretical yield must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a 100% yield mean?
A: A 100% yield means you obtained exactly the theoretical maximum amount of product, which is rare in practice due to various losses.

Q2: Why is percent yield usually less than 100%?
A: Percent yield is typically less than 100% due to incomplete reactions, side reactions, product loss during purification, and measurement errors.

Q3: Can percent yield be greater than 100%?
A: Yes, but this usually indicates measurement errors, incomplete drying of product, or the presence of impurities that add to the mass.

Q4: How do I calculate theoretical yield?
A: Theoretical yield is calculated using stoichiometry from the balanced chemical equation and the limiting reactant.

Q5: What is a good percent yield?
A: It varies by reaction type, but yields above 70-80% are generally considered good for complex organic syntheses, while simpler reactions may achieve 90%+.