1. What is Percent Yield in Stoichiometry?

Percent yield is a measure of the efficiency of a chemical reaction, comparing the actual amount of product obtained to the maximum possible amount (theoretical yield) predicted by stoichiometry calculations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percent yield formula:

Where:

• \( \text{actual} \) — Actual yield obtained from the experiment (g)
• \( \text{theoretical} \) — Theoretical yield calculated from stoichiometry (g)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of the maximum possible product was actually obtained in the reaction.

3. Importance of Percent Yield Calculation

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

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both actual and theoretical yields in grams. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the percentage yield.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good percent yield?
A: In laboratory settings, yields of 70-90% are generally considered good, though this varies by reaction type. Industrial processes often aim for yields above 90%.

Q2: Why might percent yield be less than 100%?
A: Common reasons include incomplete reactions, side reactions, product loss during purification, measurement errors, and experimental technique.

Q3: Can percent yield exceed 100%?
A: Yes, though this typically indicates impurities in the product, incorrect theoretical yield calculation, or measurement errors.

Q4: How is theoretical yield calculated?
A: Theoretical yield is calculated using stoichiometry based on the limiting reactant and the balanced chemical equation.

Q5: What's the difference between percent yield and atom economy?
A: Percent yield measures efficiency of a specific reaction, while atom economy evaluates how efficiently atoms are used in a reaction regardless of actual yield.