1. What is Theoretical Yield?

The theoretical yield is the maximum amount of product that can be produced in a chemical reaction based on the stoichiometry of the reaction and the amount of limiting reactant.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the theoretical yield formula:

Where:

• Moles of Limiting Reactant — Amount of reactant that will be completely consumed (in moles)
• Stoichiometric Ratio — Mole ratio of product to limiting reactant from balanced equation
• Molar Mass of Product — Molecular weight of the desired product (in g/mol)

Explanation: The calculation first determines how many moles of product can form, then converts this to grams using the product's molar mass.

3. Importance of Theoretical Yield

Details: Theoretical yield is crucial for predicting reaction outcomes, calculating percent yield, and planning chemical syntheses in research and industry.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter moles of limiting reactant, stoichiometric ratio from balanced equation, and molar mass of product. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is this different from actual yield?
A: Theoretical yield is the calculated maximum, while actual yield is what you actually obtain in the lab (always ≤ theoretical).

Q2: What is percent yield?
A: Percent yield = (Actual Yield / Theoretical Yield) × 100%, measuring reaction efficiency.

Q3: How do I find the limiting reactant?
A: Compare mole ratios of reactants to the stoichiometric ratio - the reactant with the smallest relative amount is limiting.

Q4: What if my reaction has multiple products?
A: Calculate theoretical yield separately for each product of interest.

Q5: Why is my actual yield lower than theoretical?
A: Common reasons include incomplete reactions, side reactions, product loss during purification, and measurement errors.