How do you calculate the percentage yield of a chemical reaction?

To calculate the percentage yield of a chemical reaction, you take the actual yield—this is the amount of product obtained from the reaction—and divide it by the theoretical yield, which is the maximum amount of product expected based on stoichiometric calculations involving the limiting reactant. After obtaining this quotient, you multiply it by 100% to express the yield as a percentage. This method allows chemists to understand how efficiently a reaction proceeds and whether the process meets expectations based on theoretical calculations.

This approach emphasizes the relationship between what is predicted (theoretical yield) and what is actually produced (actual yield), making it a useful measure of performance in chemical processes.