How is the percent yield calculated?

1 Answer
Jul 18, 2018

Just to retire this question....

Explanation:

...usually we take the quotient...

#"% yield"="moles of product"/"moles of limiting reactant"xx100%#

And to find out the #"limiting reactant"# we have to write the stoichiometric reaction that represents the synthesis of the product. For, say an esterification reaction in which the alcohol were present in excess...

#RCO_2H + R'OH stackrel(H^+)rarrRCO_2R' + H_2O#...

...we would assess the yield on the basis of...

#"% yield"=n_"ester"/n_"parent acid"xx100%=??%#..

Here product ester, and parent acid are present in a #1:1# molar ratio...this ratio will not apply with other stoichiometries...