What's the difference between actual and theoretical yield?

Actual yield is the amount of product obtained from a reaction, while theoretical yield is the maximum amount of product predicted from stoichiometric calculations.

In more detail, the actual yield is the quantity of a product that is obtained after the completion of a chemical reaction. It is often less than the theoretical yield due to various reasons such as incomplete reactions, loss of product during purification, or side reactions. The actual yield is usually determined through experiments and is expressed in grams or moles.

On the other hand, the theoretical yield is the maximum amount of product that can be produced from a given amount of reactants, according to the balanced chemical equation. It is calculated using stoichiometry, which involves the relationship between reactants and products in a chemical reaction. The theoretical yield is an ideal value that assumes all reactants are completely converted into products, with no losses or side reactions.

The difference between the actual and theoretical yield is often expressed as a percentage, known as the percent yield. This is calculated by dividing the actual yield by the theoretical yield, then multiplying by 100. The percent yield is a measure of the efficiency of a chemical reaction, with a higher percent yield indicating a more efficient reaction.

In summary, the actual yield is the amount of product actually produced in a chemical reaction, while the theoretical yield is the maximum amount of product that could be produced according to stoichiometric calculations. The difference between these two values provides valuable information about the efficiency and effectiveness of a chemical reaction.