Question

if 182 kg aspirin is obtained from reaction 185kg salicylic acid with 125kg of acetic anhydride, what was the % yield for process?

Answer 1

Salicylic acid = SA
Aspirin = ASA
Acetic acid = AC
I don't remember all of the numbers so you must look them up and calculate. Also note that this is a limiting reagent (LR) problem since amounts for BOTH reactants are given. Usually the LR is the SA. I will assume that is true here but you should confirm that FIRST THING.
SA + Ac --> ASA
mols SA = grams SA/molar mass SA= ?
In the equation 1 mol SA = 1 mol ASA; therefore, mols ASA = mols SA initially.
Then grams ASA = mols ASA x molar mass ASA = ? grams. That is the theoretical yield; i.e., grams you would get @ 100% yield. Let's call that TY.
The actual yield (AY) from the problem is 182,000 g.
So % yield = (AY/TY)*100 = ?
Post your work if you get stuck.