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 (theoretical yield) that could be produced under perfect conditions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percent yield formula:

Where:

• Actual Yield — The amount of product actually obtained from the reaction (grams or moles)
• Theoretical Yield — The maximum amount of product that could be produced based on stoichiometric calculations (grams or moles)

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

3. Importance of Percent Yield

Details: Percent yield is crucial for evaluating reaction efficiency, optimizing processes, and calculating economic viability in industrial chemistry. High yields indicate efficient use of reactants, while low yields may suggest side reactions, incomplete reactions, or product loss during purification.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both actual and theoretical yields in the same units (either grams or moles). Both values must be positive numbers. The theoretical yield should be calculated from stoichiometry before using this calculator.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good percent yield?
A: In industry, yields above 90% are typically excellent, while academic labs often consider yields above 70% acceptable. However, this varies by reaction type.

Q2: Can percent yield exceed 100%?
A: Normally no. If it does, it may indicate measurement errors, incomplete drying of product, or impurities increasing the mass.

Q3: What causes low percent yields?
A: Common causes include side reactions, incomplete reactions, loss during transfer or purification, and competing reactions.

Q4: How do I calculate theoretical yield?
A: Use stoichiometric calculations based on the limiting reactant, molar masses, and the balanced chemical equation.

Q5: Does percent yield affect atom economy?
A: They're related but different concepts. Atom economy considers all atoms in reactants, while percent yield compares actual to theoretical product amounts.