Calculating the percent yield is commonly used in the atom economy of a chemical reaction, which is a measure of the initial substance which becomes the useful product(s). Reactions with low efficiency which generate a great amount of waste and produce a smaller amount of the product desired have low atom economies and therefore a lower percent yield. On the contrary, chemical reactions which creates little waste and a greater quantity of the needed product has a high atom economy and a percent yield closer to 100% as fewer atoms are being lost, in the sense of waste. Scientists, working in chemical manufacturing factories, use the theoretical yield to determine the maximum amount of product that can be produced by a certain chemical reaction. Product can also be lost in filtration and transferring process. Scientists can then test and modify the procedure and variables so that the actual yield is as close to the theoretical yield as possible, therefore increasing the percent to an ideal 100%. This allows big companies and manufacturers to gain more profit and helps reduce environmental risks as less waste and potentially harmful products are being produced. …show more content…
If the copper salt and aluminium reacts ideally then, the actual yield of copper produced will be equal to the theoretical yield, which is determined through calculations, meaning there is a 100% yield because it is the maximum amount of copper which can be produced with the given amount of copper