If 74.5 g of ammonium nitrate was the actual amount obtained in a reaction for which the percent yield was 87.2% what is the theatrical yield

Answer 1

Hello, Hi H,

I'll assume you meant to type theoretical, not theatrical, yield. But it got my attention, so I'll explain.

Theoretical yield is 100% of what is expected. Actual yield is generally less, unless you have a sloppy lab partner that scraps everything off the countertop after spilling the reaction products (true story - my lab partner did just that). He got over 100% yield, and bragged about it. That became a theatrical yield when the professor saw his lab report. 8 >)

Let's say the theoretical expected mass for a reaction is T grams. If you measured exactly T grams, you have a 100% (T/T) yield. In this case we have 87.2% of T, which is 74.5 grams. In equation format:

87.2%T = 74.5 grams

0.872T = 74.5 grams

T = 85.4 grams

I hope this helps,

Bob