1. What is Percent Yield?

Percent yield is a measure of the efficiency of a chemical reaction, comparing the amount of product actually obtained (actual yield) to the maximum amount possible (theoretical yield). It's expressed as a percentage of the theoretical yield.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the percent yield formula:

Where:

• Actual Yield — Measured amount of product obtained from the reaction
• Theoretical Yield — Maximum possible amount of product calculated from stoichiometry

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

3. Importance of Percent Yield

Details: Percent yield helps chemists evaluate reaction efficiency, identify potential problems (side reactions, incomplete reactions, product loss), and optimize reaction conditions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both actual and theoretical yields in grams (or consistent mass units). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good percent yield?
A: While 100% is ideal, yields of 70-90% are generally considered good for complex reactions. Some reactions may routinely give lower yields.

Q2: Why might percent yield exceed 100%?
A: This usually indicates impurities in the product, incomplete drying, or measurement errors. True yields >100% are impossible.

Q3: How can I improve my percent yield?
A: Optimize reaction conditions, minimize product loss during transfer/purification, ensure complete reaction, and reduce side reactions.

Q4: What's the difference between percent yield and atom economy?
A: Atom economy considers all atoms in reactants, while percent yield compares actual to theoretical product amounts.

Q5: Should I report percent yield with error margins?
A: For scientific reporting, include error margins from multiple trials to show precision of your measurements.