Final answer:
To calculate the percent yield, divide the actual yield obtained from a chemical reaction by the theoretical yield (the maximum expected output based on stoichiometry), and then multiply the result by 100% to get the percentage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The percent yield of a reaction can be calculated using the ratio of the actual yield to the theoretical yield, and then multiplying by 100 to express it as a percentage. The theoretical yield is the maximum amount of a product that can be generated from the reactants based on stoichiometry, which is determined using the balanced chemical equation. In contrast, the actual yield is the amount of product actually obtained from the reaction when performed in a lab. The equation for calculating percent yield is:
Percent Yield = (actual yield (g) / theoretical yield (g)) x 100%
It is important to note that the actual yield is often lower than the theoretical yield due to reaction inefficiencies, incomplete reactions, side reactions, and difficulty in collecting the product without loss.