How do I calculate the "expected yield" for a reaction?

	Vocabulary
	acetic acid amine experimental yield theoretical yield limiting reagent percent yield

1. Write the balanced equation for the reaction. You've already done that. (For more about balancing equations, see How can I tell if an equation is balanced properly? and Ten tips for balancing equations).
2. Identify the limiting reagent. In this case, every mole of (CH₃)₃CNH₂ needs a mole of HC₂H₃O₂, so whichever reactant is present in the smaller molar amount will limit the amount of product obtained.

   With more complex reactions, you can identify the limiting reagent by calculating the amount of product produced if each reactant in turn is consumed completely. (For an example, see How can amount of product be predicted when the amounts of two reactants are known?)

3. Predict the amount of product obtained if the limiting reagent is consumed completely. For example, if 0.100 mol of the amine (CH₃)₃CNH₂ reacted with excess acetic acid HC₂H₃O₂, the expected yield of the product [(CH₃)₃CNH₃]C₂H₃O₂ is

   0.100 mol amine

   (

   1 mole product 1 mol amine

   )

   (

   133 g product 1 mole product

   )

   = 13.3 g product

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu