Percent yields/error

[Jacob Puchalski 1G]

What's the difference between percent yield and percent error?

[Sydney Jacobs 1C]

The percent yield in chemistry, is the fraction of (actual yield/ theoretical yield) multiplied by 100%. That is, the percentage yield reveals what was actually obtained in ratio to the maximum yield possible. On the other hand, percent error is a measure of discrepancy between an observed value and an accepted, or true value. For example, if a measurement came out to be 134.3 meters, when in actuality the true length is 134.5 meters, the percent error would be: ((accepted value-measured value)/ accepted value) x 100%. In this case, ((134.5-134.3)/134.5)x 100%= 0.15 % error. Hope that helps!

[Clarice Chui 2C]

So just to clarify, the higher the percent yield, the better? That means that the actual yield is close to the theoretical right?

[lilymayek_1E]

to Clarice, yes, the high percent yield, the better. That is the physical amount that you obtain in an experiment, and the closer it is to your calculated yield (theoretical) the more accurate it will be. actual would be closer to theoretical!
(ex. you obtain 80.0g of a theoretical 100g yield; 80% yield. if you only get 70.0g, you'll have 70% yield which is lower)