There are three types of yields you’ll need to be familiar with for the SAT II Chemistry test: theoretical yields, actual yields, and percent yields. Here’s a quick review of what all of these mean to you. The theoretical yield of a reaction is the amount of product formed once the limiting reactant has been completely consumed. This assumes perfect conditions and gives a maximum amount. The actual yield is what actually occurs in the course of the reaction—how much product is actually formed. Finally, the percent yield is the ratio of the actual yield to the theoretical yield, and you can get this value using the following formula:
