Actual yield

The mass of product actually obtained and collected is the actual yield.

The amount of product actually obtained and measured after carrying out the reaction is the actual yield. It might be recorded as a mass in grams or as an amount in moles. The actual and theoretical yields must describe the same product and be expressed in the same unit before they are compared.

The actual yield is what is really obtained. It is commonly smaller because a reaction may be incomplete or reversible, side reactions may occur, or product may be lost during transfer, filtration or purification.

When the reaction is carried out, the product is collected and measured. This measured amount is the actual yield. OCR describes actual yields as usually lower than theoretical yields.