How is percent yield calculated?

Percent yield is an important concept in stoichiometry that allows chemists to measure the efficiency of a chemical reaction. The correct method to calculate the percent yield involves determining the actual yield of a product obtained from a reaction and comparing it to the theoretical yield, which is the maximum amount of product that could be formed based on the stoichiometry of the reaction.

To calculate the percent yield, you take the actual yield, which is the quantity of product isolated after the reaction has occurred, and divide it by the theoretical yield, which is calculated based on the limiting reagent and the balanced equation for the reaction. This ratio is then multiplied by 100 to convert it into a percentage. Therefore, the formulation for percent yield can be expressed as:

Percent Yield = (Actual Yield / Theoretical Yield) × 100%.

This calculation provides valuable insight into the effectiveness of the reaction conditions and the purity of the substances involved, helping chemists identify potential losses due to side reactions, incomplete reactions, or other factors affecting the yield.