Actual yield — Science definition
The amount of product actually collected when the reaction is run in the real world.
Where it is taught
- Limiting Reactants & Percent Yield — Stoichiometry & Yield, Physical Science: Chemistry, Grade 11
In use
What you actually scrape out of the flask at the end is the actual yield, and it is nearly always less than the theoretical yield.
Limiting Reactants & Percent Yield
Questions using actual yield
Problem 1
A reaction has a theoretical yield of 50.0 g but an actual yield of 45.0 g. What is the percent yield?
Answer and explanation
90 %
percent yield = (45.0 ÷ 50.0) × 100% = 90%.
Problem 2
A reaction has a theoretical yield of 8.00 g. If it runs at 75.0% yield, what is the actual yield?
Answer and explanation
6 g
actual yield = percent yield × theoretical yield = 0.750 × 8.00 g = 6.00 g.
Problem 3
A reaction has a theoretical yield of 20.0 g and an actual yield of 18.0 g. What is the percent yield?
Answer and explanation
90 %
percent yield = (18.0 ÷ 20.0) × 100% = 90%.
Problem 4
A reaction has a theoretical yield of 12.0 g and runs at 85.0% yield. What is the actual yield?
Answer and explanation
10.2 g
actual yield = percent yield × theoretical yield = 0.850 × 12.0 g = 10.2 g.