If you used exactly 0.50 grams of salicylic acid, what was the theoretical yield of ester?

Start with your balanced equation.

To determine the theoretical yield of ester, we need to know the balanced chemical equation for the reaction that produces the ester from the salicylic acid. Without this information, it is not possible to calculate the theoretical yield accurately.

However, I can guide you through the process of calculating theoretical yield based on a balanced chemical equation. Here are the general steps:

Step 1: Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction.
Make sure the equation is balanced, meaning it has an equal number of atoms on both sides.

Step 2: Determine the molar mass of the reactant.
The molar mass of salicylic acid can be found by adding the atomic masses of each individual element in its formula. The molar mass is expressed in grams/mole.

Step 3: Convert grams of salicylic acid to moles.
To do this, divide the mass of salicylic acid by its molar mass. This will give you the number of moles of salicylic acid.

Step 4: Use the stoichiometry of the balanced equation.
Based on the balanced chemical equation, determine the mole ratio between the reactant (salicylic acid) and the product (ester) you are interested in. This ratio is obtained by comparing the coefficients of salicylic acid and ester in the balanced equation.

Step 5: Calculate the theoretical yield.
Multiply the number of moles of salicylic acid from step 3 by the appropriate mole ratio you determined in step 4. This will give you the number of moles of ester produced.

Step 6: Convert moles to grams.
Multiply the number of moles of ester from step 5 by its molar mass to calculate the theoretical yield in grams.

Applying these steps will allow you to determine the theoretical yield of ester once the balanced chemical equation is known.

It will of course also depend on the alchol used.