calculate the theoretical yield

Question

calculate the theoretical yield of silver if you started with 115.4g of silver nitrate and unlimited amounts of calcium?

Answer 1

I thought I'd provide an alternative way of looking at the problem compared to the fine answer provided by @Jacques D.

If you write the balanced equation for the reaction taking place, you will see....

2Ag⁺(aq) + Ca(s) ==> 2Ag(s) + Ca²⁺(aq) ... this is a redox reaction

Ag⁺ is reduced to Ag(s) and Ca(s) is oxidized to Ca²⁺

115.4 g AgNO₃ x 1 mol AgNO₃/169.9 g x 1 mol Ag⁺ / mol AgNO₃ x 1 mol Ag(s)/mol Ag⁺ x 107.9 g Ag/mol = 73.3 g Ag(s)

Answer 2

Easiest way to do this is using mass ratio of M_Ag = 107.9 g and the M_AgNO3 = 169.9 which applies o this reaction as long as all the silver in the silver nitrate ends up as silver:

115.4 g AgNO₃ (107.9 g Ag/169.9 g AgNO₃) = g Ag