What is the formula for calculating the percentage yield of a reaction?

The percentage yield of a reaction is an important concept in chemistry that measures the efficiency of a chemical reaction. It is calculated using the formula:

Percentage yield = (actual yield / theoretical yield) x 100

In this formula, the actual yield refers to the amount of product that is physically obtained from the reaction, while the theoretical yield is the maximum amount of product that could be formed based on stoichiometric calculations from the balanced chemical equation. By dividing the actual yield by the theoretical yield, you can determine what fraction of the expected product was actually produced, and multiplying by 100 converts this fraction into a percentage.

This calculation is vital for a variety of applications including optimizing reactions in a lab setting and evaluating the performance of industrial processes. The higher the percentage yield, the more efficient the reaction is considered to be, making this a critical measure in chemical science.