Final answer:
The theoretical yield is the maximum product yield calculated from the stoichiometry of a balanced chemical reaction. To calculate it, convert the mass of the limiting reactant to moles, use the molar ratio to find the moles of product, and convert this back to grams. The percent yield is the actual yield divided by the theoretical yield, multiplied by 100%.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theoretical yield of a chemical reaction is the maximum amount of product that can be generated as calculated from the stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation. In order to calculate the theoretical yield, one must use the balanced equation to find the molar ratio between the reactants and the products and then apply this ratio to the amount of limiting reactant available.
The actual yield is the amount of product that is actually produced when the reaction is carried out. The percent yield is calculated by dividing the actual yield by the theoretical yield and multiplying by 100%. For example, if you are given the balanced chemical equation C7H6O3 + C4H6O3 → C9H8O4 + HC2H3O2 and you start with 12.66 g of C7H6O3 and obtain 12.03 g of aspirin (C9H8O4).
You would first need to convert the mass of C7H6O3 to moles to find the theoretical yield of C9H8O4 in moles. This is then converted back to grams to give you the theoretical yield in grams. Comparing this to the actual yield of 12.03 g will allow you to calculate the percent yield.