Final answer:
A backwards theoretical yield calculation involves using the mass and molecular weight of the product to find the moles of product, using stoichiometry to determine the moles of starting material, and converting these moles to mass of reactant.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the mass of the carbonyl compound (Carvone, Cuminaldehyde, or Cinnamaldehyde) that must have reacted with the reagent, given the yield of the spice oil derivative, a backwards theoretical yield calculation is required. This entails using the molecular weight of the product to determine the moles of product. From there, stoichiometry must be employed to find the moles of the starting material that would be required to yield the observed amount of product. Finally, the molecular weight of the starting material is used to convert the moles back to mass.
As an example, if the molecular weight of the product is known and you have 10 grams of product, you can calculate the number of moles of product you have. Then, based on the balanced chemical equation for the reaction, you can determine the mole ratio of product to reactant. Assuming the mole ratio is 1:1, you would need the same number of moles of reactant as product to achieve that yield. The mass of the reactant (Carvone, Cuminaldehyde, or Cinnamaldehyde) is then found by multiplying its moles by its molecular weight.