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Chemistry vocabulary · Moles and Stoichiometry

Percent yield

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In chemistry, percent yield means: The amount of product actually obtained, divided by the maximum possible (theoretical) amount and multiplied by 100. It shows how efficient a reaction was.

In Turkish: yüzde verim

How it is used

Reported for every synthesis and in lab reports. You calculate it from the actual and theoretical yield; papers often just say 'in 85% yield'. British English also says 'percentage yield'.

Example sentences

  1. We got 4.2 g of product from a theoretical 5.0 g, so the percent yield is 84%.

  2. A percent yield above 100% usually means the product is still wet.

Common collocations

  • calculate the percent yield
  • theoretical yield
  • actual yield
  • in high yield
  • low yield
  • productA substance formed in a chemical reaction. In an equation, these new substances are written to the right of the arrow.
  • limiting reagentThe reactant that runs out first in a reaction. It decides the maximum amount of product that can form; the other reactants are left over in excess.
  • stoichiometryThe calculation of the amounts of reactants and products in a reaction, using the mole ratios from the balanced equation.
  • recrystallizationA purification method in which a solid is dissolved in a small amount of hot solvent and left to cool slowly, so that pure crystals form and impurities stay in solution.

More terms: Moles and Stoichiometry

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