What is the Difference Between Theoretical Yield and Actual Yield?

The Difference Between Theoretical Yield and Actual Yield:

• Theoretical Yield: This is the amount of product calculated to be produced in a chemical reaction based on the stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation. It represents the maximum amount of product that could be formed from the given amounts of reactants.
• Actual Yield: This is the amount of product that is actually produced in a chemical reaction. It is experimentally determined and usually less than the theoretical yield due to factors such as incomplete reaction, loss of product during the process, or inefficiency of the chemical reaction.

To compare the actual yield with the theoretical yield, the Percent Yield is calculated. This is the ratio of the actual yield to the theoretical yield, expressed as a percentage:

$$\text{Percent Yield} = \frac{\text{Actual Yield}}{\text{Theoretical Yield}} \times 100\%$$

Proper percent yields are between 0% and 100%. If the percent yield is greater than 100%, an error has been made.

Comparative Table: Theoretical Yield vs Actual Yield

The difference between theoretical yield and actual yield can be summarized in the following table:

In summary, the theoretical yield represents the maximum amount of product that could be formed from the given amounts of reactants, while the actual yield is the amount of product that is actually formed when the reaction is carried out. The percent yield, which is the ratio of actual yield to theoretical yield, expressed as a percentage, can be used to evaluate the success of a reaction.