What is meant by theoretical yield in a chemical reaction?

Theoretical yield refers to the maximum amount of product that can be produced from a given set of reactants, assuming that the reaction proceeds to completion with no losses or side reactions occurring. This concept is crucial in stoichiometry, as it allows chemists to predict the output of a chemical reaction based on the balanced equation and the amounts of reactants used.

In practice, the theoretical yield is calculated using the molar ratios from the balanced chemical equation and the quantities of the limiting reactant. Understanding this helps in evaluating the efficiency of a reaction when comparing it to the actual yield, which is the amount produced in practice. The actual yield is often less than the theoretical yield due to factors such as incomplete reactions, side reactions, or losses during product recovery. This distinction highlights the importance of the theoretical yield as a benchmark for assessing reaction performance and efficiency.