Percent Yield Calculator

Determine reaction efficiency by comparing actual yield with theoretical yield in a single step.

Percent yield

76.36%

How to Use This Calculator

1

Determine theoretical yield

Use stoichiometry and limiting reagents to compute the maximum possible product.

2

Measure actual yield

Weigh or quantify the product obtained experimentally.

3

Enter the values

Input both yields into the calculator to instantly find percent yield.

4

Interpret the result

Compare percent yields between experiments to assess efficiency or identify issues.

Formula

Percent yield = (Actual / Theoretical) × 100

Ensure actual and theoretical yields share the same units (grams, moles, etc.).

Example

Actual 42 g, theoretical 55 g → percent yield = (42/55) × 100 = 76.4%.

Full Description

Percent yield quantifies reaction efficiency by showing what fraction of the theoretical product was actually obtained. It helps diagnose procedural losses, side reactions, or incomplete conversions.

This calculator provides a quick, reliable percent yield estimate for lab reports, homework, or process optimization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is percent yield below 100%?

Real processes suffer losses from side reactions, transfer losses, or incomplete reactions.

Can percent yield exceed 100%?

Only if impurities or measurement errors inflate the actual yield. Investigate and correct such issues.

Does unit choice matter?

The ratio is unitless. Just keep actual and theoretical yields in the same unit.

How do I find theoretical yield?

Use balanced chemical equations and limiting reagent calculations to find the maximum possible mass.

What about multi-step syntheses?

Compute percent yield for each step or for the entire process using overall actual and theoretical yields.