Theoretical Yield Calculator
Work out the maximum amount of product a reaction can make from your limiting reactant, and see your percent yield if you know how much you actually collected.
What is theoretical yield?
Theoretical yield is the maximum mass of product a reaction can produce, assuming the limiting reactant is completely converted with no losses. It comes straight from the balanced chemical equation and simple stoichiometry.
How this calculator works
First, the mass of your limiting reactant is converted to moles using its molar mass. That mole amount is then multiplied by the mole ratio from the balanced equation (moles of product formed per mole of reactant consumed) to get moles of product. Multiplying by the product’s molar mass gives the theoretical yield in grams.
If you enter an actual yield from your experiment, the calculator also reports percent yield, which compares what you actually collected to the theoretical maximum.
- Mole ratio: read this directly from the coefficients of your balanced equation.
- Percent yield below 100% is normal and expected in real experiments due to side reactions, incomplete reactions, and product loss during purification.
This tool is intended for general chemistry education and lab planning purposes.