Final answer:
The percent yield in a reaction involving Mg and I2 is calculated by comparing the actual yield to the theoretical yield, determined by stoichiometry and the limiting reactant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percent yield of a chemical reaction can be calculated by dividing the actual yield (the amount of product actually obtained from the reaction) by the theoretical yield (the amount of product that could be obtained if the reactant completely converted to product) and multiplying by 100. First, we need to identify the balanced chemical equation and determine the limiting reactant.
In the case of two given reactants Mg and I2, the balanced equation would look something like Mg + I2 → MgI2. By using stoichiometry, we can find the theoretical yield of MgI2. To calculate the percent yield, we compare the actual yield, which is 1.76 moles of MgI2, to the theoretical yield obtained through calculations based on the limiting reactant.